Financial markets are bracing for crucial Federal Reserve decisions this week as the ongoing Middle East conflict creates uncertainty around anticipated interest rate reductions.
The Federal Reserve will convene for its first policy meeting since U.S. and Israeli forces launched airstrikes against Iran approximately two weeks ago, triggering significant oil price increases that have impacted financial markets worldwide.
During their two-day session, Fed officials must consider how the energy price shock affects both inflation rates and economic expansion. The central bank plans to publish updated economic forecasts on Wednesday. Financial markets have scaled back expectations for rate reductions following the conflict, despite earlier optimism from investors counting on such cuts to boost stock performance this year.
“The Fed is going to be front and center, especially given the fact that we have seen the market push back… these rate cut expectations,” explained Angelo Kourkafas, senior global investment strategist at Edward Jones.
American stock markets have declined and volatility has increased since the Iran conflict started. Market participants are closely monitoring dramatic oil price movements, with U.S. crude reaching nearly $120 per barrel early in the week before settling near the significant $100 threshold. Iranian officials warned the global community should prepare for $200 oil as their military forces targeted commercial vessels.
The S&P 500 benchmark index had dropped more than 4% from its January record high as of Thursday, heading toward its third consecutive weekly loss.
“We’re seeing wild swings in the market as traders are latching on to any hint of developments, positive or negative, on the Iran conflict,” noted Sid Vaidya, chief investment strategist at TD Wealth.
Market analysts widely anticipate the Fed will maintain current interest rates unchanged for the second meeting in a row when announcing its policy decision Wednesday. The central bank reduced rates last year to support a weakening job market but halted further cuts in January after noting decreased risks to employment and inflation.
Investors had been counting on additional rate reductions this year, which typically boost stock and asset values. However, these expectations have diminished due to concerns that rising energy costs will drive inflation higher.
“We believe this will just keep the Fed in a holding pattern for longer,” Vaidya stated.
Meanwhile, February’s unexpectedly poor employment report might encourage the Fed to maintain its accommodative stance.
Federal funds futures markets on Thursday reflected expectations for approximately one quarter-point rate cut by December, down from two such reductions projected in late February before the war commenced, based on LSEG data.
The Fed will publish updated projections from policymakers regarding future rate expectations, along with inflation and employment forecasts. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s Wednesday press conference following the policy announcement could provide insights into how officials view the conflict’s economic impact.
“I think it’s going to set the table for the year and how to look at inflation being induced by oil prices,” said Paul Nolte, senior wealth adviser and market strategist at Murphy & Sylvest Wealth Management.
This represents Powell’s second-to-last meeting before his chairmanship concludes in May. The next rate adjustment may not occur until President Donald Trump’s Fed chair nominee, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, assumes leadership of the central bank.
Next week will also feature Nvidia’s annual developer conference, which could renew attention on artificial intelligence investments that created technology sector volatility earlier this year.
However, investors expect Iran-related developments will continue dominating market sentiment.
“Headlines continue to drive market movements as investors wait for greater clarity on the timing of a U.S. exit strategy,” Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial, wrote in Thursday commentary.
Target’s newly appointed CEO Michael Fiddelke has announced his first major initiative since assuming leadership last month: reducing prices on over 3,000 items across the retailer’s stores.
The price reductions, ranging from 5% to 20% on clothing, household items, and everyday necessities, echo the approach used by his predecessor Brian Cornell throughout his decade-long leadership of the company. However, Cornell’s similar pricing strategies delivered only temporary improvements in sales performance.
This latest pricing initiative comes as Fiddelke faces mounting pressure from investors to demonstrate that his increased spending plans for the year will generate better financial results and that his comprehensive strategy outlined during his inaugural investor presentation on March 3 can halt three consecutive years of sales declines.
“The price cuts are a step in the right direction, but they alone are not enough to win back customers. The winning playbook is broader than simply lowering prices,” said CFRA analyst Arun Sundaram.
Target has implemented multiple price reduction campaigns from 2017 through 2024, responding to fierce competition from Walmart, Aldi, Amazon, and other retailers that sparked industry-wide pricing battles, often timed around holiday seasons or major strategic adjustments.
Following Target’s decision to lower prices on 5,000 products in 2024, the company briefly experienced positive same-store sales growth. However, this improvement proved temporary as Target’s heavy dependence on customers’ discretionary purchases during a period when consumers focused primarily on essential items led to renewed sales pressure.
The retailer has experienced declining revenues for five consecutive quarters, with operating profits falling for the last three quarters, though the rate of year-over-year decline has begun to moderate.
Target shareholders have witnessed total returns decrease by more than 20% over the past five years, a stark contrast to competitors Walmart and Costco, which have achieved gains exceeding 200% during the same timeframe. The priority for Target now centers on rapidly attracting customers back to stores amid intense competition and widespread consumer bargain-seeking behavior.
Target representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
“Target’s new chapter is all about fueling growth, and we’ll do so by playing our own game and making big changes to delight our guests,” Fiddelke stated last week.
Industry observers have highlighted his urgent approach to implementing changes. Following his presentation, investors drove Target’s stock price up 6% that day.
Fiddelke has increased the company’s annual budget to $6 billion, promising more fashionable clothing inventory, accelerated delivery services, and artificial intelligence integration across Target’s approximately 2,000 store locations.
His transformation strategy encompasses $5 billion in capital investments, representing a one-third increase from the previous year. The plan allocates $1 billion toward faster product restocking, new store openings, and renovations of current locations. The grocery segment will receive more than $1 billion in investment, with stores expanding space dedicated to fresh food offerings.
The retailer will also restructure some locations as fulfillment-focused distribution centers while others concentrate on serving in-store shoppers, departing from the previous approach of utilizing nearly all stores as mini-fulfillment facilities. Fiddelke has also committed an additional $1 billion toward operational expenses.
“Fiddelke’s pace is aggressive but realistic if store execution and supply chain stay disciplined,” said Michael Ashley Schulman, a partner at wealth management advisory firm Cerity Partners. “The challenge is to do this consistently across 2,000 stores. Retail turnarounds rarely get a second shot, and this is a big bet on consistency.”
Cornell’s tenure at Target involved a decade-long effort to transform the company, producing varying degrees of success. Target withdrew from unprofitable Canadian operations in 2015, resulting in substantial financial write-downs during Cornell’s leadership. In a move comparable to Fiddelke’s current investment strategy, Cornell allocated $7 billion in 2017 for store renovations, which ultimately compressed profit margins.
Fiddelke, who previously held both chief operating officer and chief financial officer positions at Target, has projected sales growth for every quarter this year. He has also forecasted an adjusted operating income margin of 4.8% for 2026, representing a 20 basis point improvement over last year’s performance.
Walmart, renowned for generating substantial sales volumes through thin profit margins, anticipates an operating margin reaching 4.4% for the same timeframe, along with comparable revenue growth.
Target currently carries higher debt levels than Walmart, providing less financial flexibility as it increases spending. Capturing market share may prove challenging for Target, given that Walmart has established dominant positioning in the crucial grocery sector.
Jay Woods, chief market strategist at Freedom Capital Markets, noted that benefits from a return-to-fundamentals retail approach will emerge gradually.
“The question is not only can (Fiddelke) do it, but will investors have the patience to wait.”
French automotive manufacturer Renault has announced an ambitious five-year expansion plan that targets a 23% increase in vehicle sales by 2030, with international markets playing a central role in the company’s growth strategy.
The automaker revealed on March 10 that it intends to sell 50% of its Renault-branded vehicles in overseas markets by the end of the decade, a significant jump from the current 38%. This international push comes as the company faces mounting pressure from budget-friendly Chinese competitors such as BYD and Chery, along with established European rivals like Stellantis.
Renault’s expansion blueprint includes launching 36 new vehicle models over the next five years, with 14 specifically designed for markets beyond Europe. This represents a dramatic increase from the eight international models introduced in the previous five-year period.
The company projects annual sales of more than 2 million Renault-branded vehicles by 2030, representing a 23% increase from the 1.63 million units sold in 2025. CEO Francois Provost, who assumed leadership last year, emphasized the company’s commitment to global competitiveness.
“We will show that we are here for the long term and we will become the benchmark for the European automotive industry on the global stage,” Provost stated.
The French manufacturer plans to leverage partnerships with companies like China’s Geely to strengthen its presence in South America and South Korea, while relying primarily on internal technology development for European products.
Renault’s current position marks a significant improvement from five years ago, when substantial financial losses forced the company to withdraw from multiple international markets and eliminate thousands of positions.
The automaker will continue investing in electric vehicle technology despite reduced U.S. government support for EVs under the current administration. Renault plans to introduce 16 fully electric models by 2030, representing 44% of its total planned lineup.
A new electric vehicle platform scheduled for 2028 will feature a range-extender option with a backup gasoline engine, providing up to 870 miles of driving range. The company will also utilize its Horse Powertrain partnership with Geely to create smaller engines for hybrid vehicles.
Two new models will be unveiled at the company’s research facility near Paris: the Bridger, a compact SUV designed for the Indian market, and the Dacia Striker, a crossover wagon intended to compete with Volkswagen Group’s Skoda Octavia.
Financial markets around the world are experiencing renewed uncertainty as conflicting messages emerge from Washington and Tehran regarding the ongoing military conflict.
President Donald Trump initially offered reassurance to investors, stating the Iran war was “very complete” and might be “over soon.” These comments provided temporary relief to global markets that had been volatile following Monday’s dramatic trading session.
However, Iran’s military leadership quickly dismissed the president’s optimistic assessment. “We are the ones who will determine the end of the war,” declared Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, effectively rejecting any suggestion that hostilities were winding down.
The contradictory statements prompted Trump to escalate his rhetoric, warning he would strike Iran “TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.”
Oil markets reflected the uncertainty, with Brent crude prices initially plummeting 11% to reach $88.05 per barrel before recovering to show a more modest 4.8% decline as traders evaluated the competing claims.
Despite the geopolitical tensions, many stock markets managed to maintain recent gains. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index climbed 2.1%, while South Korea’s Kospi index soared as much as 6.6%. The broader Asia-Pacific market index excluding Japan rose 2.2%, helping to offset losses accumulated since the conflict began.
European markets appeared positioned for continued growth, with regional futures indicating a 1.0% increase, German DAX futures up 1.0%, and FTSE futures showing modest 0.4% gains.
American equity futures presented a more cautious picture, with S&P 500 mini-futures declining 0.5%, partially reversing Monday’s recovery.
In other economic developments, Chinese trade data revealed accelerating export growth during the January-February period, positioning the world’s second-largest economy to potentially exceed its record $1.2 trillion trade surplus by 2026.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s trade ministry announced it would encourage businesses to implement work-from-home policies to conserve fuel amid supply disruptions and price increases caused by the Iran conflict – a move reminiscent of pandemic-era restrictions implemented nearly five years ago.
Tuesday’s market-moving events include earnings reports from Oracle, Volkswagen, Persimmon, and Kohl’s, along with Germany’s January trade balance data and a German government debt auction.
Law enforcement officials in New Mexico launched a search Monday of Jeffrey Epstein’s former remote ranch property, where the deceased financier and associates allegedly committed sexual abuse against women and girls, according to state officials.
The Democratic-led state is pursuing fresh leads contained in federal documents made public in January, which include claims that Epstein directed the burial of two foreign girls in hillsides surrounding the isolated compound.
Monday’s operation comes after New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announced last month he would restart the probe into the convicted sex offender’s suspected criminal conduct at the property located 30 miles south of Santa Fe.
“The New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead,” officials stated.
A reporter at the scene Monday observed barking dogs and witnessed a government vehicle displaying a paw-print emblem, indicating it was transporting animals, departing the ranch grounds. State police cruisers and a county emergency response vehicle were also present.
The Epstein document releases have created ongoing political challenges for President Donald Trump.
State officials had previously ended their Epstein probe in 2019 after federal investigators requested they step aside. No comprehensive investigation has ever been conducted regarding the alleged assaults committed by Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and ranch guests.
New Mexico made history last month by establishing the nation’s first legislative “truth commission” designed to expose potential government corruption that enabled Epstein to conduct operations secretly at the ranch for 26 years until his 2019 death.
The deceased financier’s estate transferred ownership of the land in 2023 to Texas entrepreneur Don Huffines, who rechristened it San Rafael Ranch.
Current property owners are providing full cooperation with investigators and have authorized access for the search operations, the department confirmed.
The January 30 document dump revealed millions of additional files detailing Epstein’s relationships with politicians, corporate leaders, and academics whom he hosted at the ranch facility.
Recent Reuters/Ipsos survey data indicates most Americans consider the Epstein matter evidence that wealthy elites seldom face consequences for their actions.
Fernando Tatis Jr. delivered a massive grand slam and Oneil Cruz added another home run as the Dominican Republic dominated Israel 10-1 in World Baseball Classic Pool D action Monday in Miami.
The Dominican squad improved to 3-0 and stays on track for a showdown with Venezuela to determine Pool D’s top seed. Venezuela also stands at 3-0 after shutting out Nicaragua 4-0 Monday night. Both nations have locked up spots in the quarterfinal round.
Following Geraldo Perdomo’s bases-loaded walk that put the first run on the board, Tatis launched a 1-2 offering 400 feet over the left field wall for his tournament debut homer. The superstar added a two-run base hit in the seventh inning, while Erik Gonzalez contributed an RBI triple in the ninth. Gonzalez stepped in as an injury substitute for Houston’s Jeremy Pena.
Starting pitcher Brayan Bello recorded seven strikeouts across five innings of work. Israel’s sole tally came via Spencer Horwitz’s solo blast, as the Israeli squad managed just two hits total and fell to 1-2.
In other World Baseball Classic action Monday:
South Korea 7, Australia 2
Bo Gyeong Moon nearly hit for the cycle and propelled South Korea into the knockout rounds with a decisive Pool C victory over Australia in Tokyo. South Korea finished tied with Australia and Taiwan at 2-2 but advanced due to allowing the fewest runs per defensive out among the three teams. Hyun Min Ahn’s crucial sacrifice fly in the ninth provided the five-run cushion needed for the tiebreaker advantage.
Moon connected for a two-run blast in the second, drove in another with a double in the third, and added an RBI single in the fifth. He now paces the tournament with 11 RBIs. Australia got home runs from Robbie Glendinning and an RBI single from Travis Bazzana.
Colombia 4, Panama 3
Colombia erupted for all four runs in the sixth inning before holding off Panama’s late rally in Pool A action in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Jordan Diaz started the scoring with a sacrifice fly, Reynaldo Rodriguez plated two with a single to left, and Daniel Vellojin capped the rally with an RBI single for Colombia (1-3). Neither team will reach the elimination rounds.
Panama (1-3) got a solo homer from Jose Caballero and RBI singles from Jose Ramos and Christian Bethancourt in the eighth, but Pedro Garcia secured a four-out save for Colombia.
Great Britain 8, Brazil 1
Ian Lewis Jr. went deep and Jazz Chisholm Jr. drove in three runs as Great Britain prevented a winless tournament by defeating Brazil in Pool B play in Houston. Chisholm and Matt Koperniak each collected two hits, while starter Brendan Beck fired four hitless innings for Great Britain (1-3).
Brazil’s only offense came on Gabriel do Carmo’s RBI double, finishing 0-4 in the tournament. Neither squad advances to the next round.
Venezuela 4, Nicaragua 0
Ronald Acuna Jr. went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, RBI single and stolen base as Venezuela (3-0) clinched a quarterfinal berth by blanking Nicaragua (0-4) in Pool D play at Miami. Jackson Chourio opened the scoring with a first-inning sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu added another sac fly in the sixth. Seven Venezuelan pitchers combined for the shutout, starting with two innings from Yoendrys Gomez followed by three from Keider Montero.
Puerto Rico 4, Cuba 1
Martin Maldonado’s three-run double in the second inning powered Puerto Rico past Cuba in San Juan, improving the hosts to 3-0 in Pool A and securing a quarterfinal spot. Heliot Ramos doubled and scored on Carlos Cortes’ fifth-inning sacrifice fly for Puerto Rico. Starter Elmer Rodriguez threw three scoreless frames, and Edwin Diaz struck out the final two batters for the save.
Cuba’s only run in the sixth was unearned, as Ariel Martinez scored from first on Alfredo Despaigne’s double when center fielder Ramos committed a throwing error. Cuban starter Julio Robaina allowed three runs while recording just four outs.
Good morning, Delmarva! We’re looking at a beautiful Friday to kick off the weekend, with mostly sunny skies and temperatures climbing to a pleasant 52 degrees. However, you’ll want to secure any loose outdoor items today – we’re expecting breezy to windy conditions with south winds ranging from calm to 20 mph, and gusts could reach up to 40 mph at times.
Tonight will be mostly clear and cool, with temperatures dropping to around 42 degrees – perfect weather for any Friday night plans you might have.
Looking ahead to Saturday, it’s shaping up to be another lovely day with mostly sunny skies and highs reaching 54 degrees. The winds should calm down significantly compared to today, making it ideal for outdoor activities. Saturday night will see increasing clouds moving in, with lows dipping to 39 degrees.
Overall, it’s a fantastic start to the weekend across the peninsula! Just bundle up a bit this evening and tomorrow night as those temperatures drop into the upper 30s and lower 40s.
Stay safe out there, Delmarva, and have a wonderful Friday!
While President Trump champions apprenticeship programs as a cornerstone of his vision for American worker prosperity, a manufacturing facility in Conway, Arkansas is putting these training initiatives to the test.
At Virco Manufacturing, apprentice Caleb Moss operates sophisticated precision equipment as part of a workforce development program that reflects the administration’s broader push to strengthen job training opportunities across the country.
The Arkansas company’s experience with apprenticeship training comes as questions emerge about whether the Trump administration’s financial commitments to such programs will prove adequate to achieve the president’s ambitious goals for American workers.
Trump has positioned these hands-on training programs as essential to delivering what he calls a “golden era” for the nation’s workforce, particularly in manufacturing sectors that have faced significant challenges in recent decades.
This week’s current events quiz puts your knowledge to the test across multiple topics, from Hollywood stars to dance performances.
The quiz features questions about actor Timothée Chalamet alongside ballet-related news stories that have made headlines recently.
Quiz-takers who have been following developments in healthcare, professional basketball, and British government proceedings should find themselves well-prepared to answer at least three questions correctly this week, according to the quiz creators.
The weekly quiz continues to challenge readers with a diverse mix of entertainment, politics, sports, and international news topics.
Winter Paralympic competitors who rely on prosthetic devices are discovering entrepreneurial possibilities by launching companies that assist other amputees with equipment customization.
Many Paralympic athletes who compete with prosthetics frequently adjust their devices to achieve more accurate body alignment and performance enhancement. This common need has sparked several competitors to establish their own enterprises focused on helping fellow amputees obtain proper equipment fitting.
The trend highlights how athletes are transforming their personal challenges with prosthetic adaptation into business solutions that benefit the broader Paralympic community. These athlete-entrepreneurs combine their competitive experience with technical knowledge to address a specialized market need within adaptive sports.
Telecommunications company Veon announced Friday that its core profits jumped approximately 19% for the full year, powered by increased demand for digital services as the company prepares to bring its Starlink satellite partnership to Bangladesh.
The digital services operator reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $2 billion. Digital services revenue surged 62.5% over the year, now accounting for 17.3% of the company’s total income.
CEO Kaan Terzioglu explained to Reuters that operations in Ukraine demonstrated the limitations of ground-based networks, citing challenges from landmines blocking technician access to power outages shutting down cell towers, making satellite integration necessary.
Following Bangladesh, the technology will roll out to Uzbekistan and Pakistan, Terzioglu disclosed.
According to Terzioglu, Veon has become “the largest partner when it comes to the number of customers utilizing direct-to-cell technology of Starlink,” serving nearly 5 million users in Ukraine over four months with 7 million messages transmitted through the network.
In Pakistan, Veon’s Jazz division obtained 190 MHz during this week’s spectrum auction – the biggest single allocation – setting the stage for 5G network rollout.
Terzioglu commended Pakistan’s strategy to triple available spectrum while cutting costs, describing it as “a best practice the world needs to hear.”
While acknowledging he’s watching potential conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he noted that lessons from Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic proved “when things get difficult, our services become more essential.”
The company’s total digital monthly active users climbed to 135.5 million, representing an 11.4% year-over-year increase.
Regarding future growth, Terzioglu said he’s “continuously monitoring” markets with populations exceeding 100 million that lack sufficient banking infrastructure, identifying them as natural expansion targets given Veon’s expertise in providing digital services through telecommunications networks.
Looking ahead to 2026, Veon projects revenue growth between 9%-12% and EBITDA growth of 7%-10%.
HAVANA, March 13 – In an uncommon move, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel plans to speak with domestic journalists Friday morning as his country grapples with mounting economic difficulties and heightened tensions with the Trump administration.
Cuban officials announced Thursday evening that Diaz-Canel will hold the media session at 7:30 a.m. EDT to discuss matters of national and international significance. While such presidential media encounters are unusual in Cuba, international journalists were not extended invitations, and any questions posed will likely come from pre-selected Cuban reporters.
Officials described Friday’s session as building upon Diaz-Canel’s February 5 remarks, during which he cautioned that Cuba might need to implement drastic measures due to ongoing economic hardships, widespread electrical outages, and fuel scarcities worsened by Trump’s petroleum embargo against the island nation.
During that earlier appearance, Diaz-Canel also expressed Cuba’s openness to diplomatic dialogue with Washington, provided Cuba receives respectful treatment without threats or predetermined conditions.
The Cuban leader may respond to Trump’s repeated claims that high-level negotiations between American and Cuban officials are already taking place. While Cuban authorities have rejected assertions of formal diplomatic meetings, they haven’t categorically dismissed reports suggesting informal communications channels exist.
Following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the removal of Cuba’s primary international supporter in January, Trump has blocked Venezuelan petroleum deliveries to Cuba and warned of potential tariffs against nations selling oil to the Caribbean island.
Trump has recently made several public statements suggesting Cuba faces imminent collapse or seeks an agreement with America. This Monday, he mentioned Cuba might experience a “friendly takeover,” before adding the caveat that “it may not be a friendly takeover.”
A major milestone has been reached in the automotive technology sector as Geely, the Chinese car manufacturer, secured European Union approval for its intelligent driving assistance technology on Friday.
The company’s G-ASD smart driving system has become the first Chinese-developed driver assistance technology to gain certification under European Union regulations for advanced automated driving features, according to a statement from Geely Holding.
This regulatory approval means that automobiles featuring Geely’s G-ASD technology can now be marketed and sold across select European Union member nations without requiring any additional certification processes from those individual countries.
The certification represents a significant breakthrough for Chinese automotive technology in the competitive European market, where safety and technology standards are particularly stringent.
The Dallas Stars continued their scorching hot play Thursday night, overwhelming the Edmonton Oilers 7-2 at home to push their point streak to an impressive 14 games with a 13-0-1 record during the stretch.
Jason Robertson powered the offensive onslaught with four points, netting two goals while adding two assists in the dominant victory. The Stars now sit just one game away from matching their franchise record of 15 consecutive games with at least one point.
Dallas received contributions throughout their lineup, with Wyatt Johnston collecting three points on one goal and two helpers. Defenseman Miro Heiskanen dished out three assists, while Jamie Benn found the back of the net twice. Sam Steel and Matt Duchene each contributed a goal and assist, and goaltender Jake Oettinger turned away 30 shots for the victory.
The loss continued Edmonton’s recent struggles, as the Oilers dropped to 4-7-0 over their last 11 contests. Evan Bouchard and Jason Dickinson provided the only offense for Edmonton, while netminder Tristan Jarry allowed seven goals on just 27 Dallas shots.
Capitals 2, Sabres 1
Jakob Chychrun delivered the decisive blow with 1:33 remaining in regulation, lifting Washington past Buffalo and snapping the Sabres’ eight-game winning streak.
Ryan Leonard extended his scoring streak to three games for the Capitals, who have claimed victory in two of their last three outings. Charlie Lindgren was solid between the pipes with 29 saves for Washington.
Sam Carrick scored Buffalo’s lone goal, ending a remarkable run where the Sabres had outscored opponents 36-20 during their winning streak. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 20 stops in the losing effort.
Lightning 4, Red Wings 1
Gage Goncalves and Jake Guentzel each scored twice as Tampa Bay captured just their second victory since the Winter Olympics break, defeating visiting Detroit.
Nikita Kucherov reached a significant milestone with two assists, recording his 1,100th career point. Goncalves set a personal best with his 10th goal of the season as Tampa Bay improved to 3-6-0 following the Milan festivities. Brayden Point contributed two assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 24 shots.
J.T. Compher scored Detroit’s only goal while John Gibson made 24 saves as the Red Wings fell to 4-7-2 in their past 13 games.
Rangers 6, Jets 3
Alexis Lafreniere, Gabe Perreault and Tye Kartye each recorded two points as New York captured its third straight victory for the first time since late November, outlasting Winnipeg on the road.
Adam Fox, Adam Edstrom and Noah Laba also found the scoresheet for New York. Braden Schneider and Vincent Trocheck both contributed two assists, while Igor Shesterkin made 23 saves.
Isak Rosen, Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi scored for Winnipeg, with Connor Hellebuyck stopping 11 shots.
Flyers 3, Wild 2 (SO)
Travis Konecny converted the decisive shootout attempt to give Philadelphia a victory over Minnesota in Saint Paul.
Emil Andrae and Owen Tippett scored in regulation for the Flyers, who won their second consecutive game and sixth in their last eight. Dan Vladar stopped 21 of 23 shots and denied Matt Boldy’s shootout try before Konecny sealed the win.
Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov each scored while Quinn Hughes assisted on both goals for Minnesota, which extended its point streak to five games at 3-0-2. Jesper Wallstedt allowed two goals on 26 shots and stopped Philadelphia’s first two shootout attempts before surrendering the winner.
Blues 3, Hurricanes 1
Jimmy Snuggerud continued his torrid pace with two goals as St. Louis won its fifth straight road game, defeating Carolina in Raleigh.
Snuggerud’s go-ahead tally came with 4:48 left in regulation, and Pavel Buchnevich added an empty-netter in the final minute. The hot streak has seen Snuggerud collect five goals and four assists over four games. Dylan Holloway recorded two assists, and Jordan Binnington made 31 saves.
Carolina saw its 12-game home point streak end at 11-0-1 despite Mark Jankowski’s goal. Rookie goalie Brandon Bussi, who stopped 14 shots, suffered his second consecutive loss for the first time, dropping his record to 25-5-1.
Panthers 2, Blue Jackets 1 (OT)
Sam Reinhart’s power-play goal 2:20 into overtime capped Florida’s comeback victory over Columbus in Sunrise.
Sam Bennett provided the other goal for the Panthers, who won their third in a row. Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 30 shots.
Adam Fantilli scored for Columbus, which extended its point streak to eight games at 4-0-4 despite the overtime loss. Elvis Merzlikins made 19 saves.
Avalanche 5, Kraken 1
Nathan MacKinnon scored his league-leading 44th goal and added three assists as visiting Colorado dominated Seattle.
Martin Necas contributed a goal and assist while Nicolas Roy, Nazem Kadri and Joel Kiviranta also scored for the league-leading Avalanche, who have won six of their last seven. Devon Toews added two assists, and Scott Wedgewood made 28 saves.
Ryker Evans scored for Seattle, which lost its fourth consecutive game. Joey Daccord was pulled after allowing three goals on 15 first-period shots, with Philipp Grubauer stopping nine of 11 shots in relief.
Sharks 4, Bruins 2
Massachusetts native Collin Graf scored the game-winner while short-handed, leading San Jose to victory in Boston.
Michael Misa, Tyler Toffoli and William Eklund each recorded two points for the Sharks, who improved to 4-1-2 in their last seven games and completed the season series sweep. Alex Nedeljkovic made 39 saves.
David Pastrnak had two points, Fraser Minten also scored and Jeremy Swayman stopped 24 shots for Boston, which took its first regulation loss in four games at 2-0-1. The defeat also ended the Bruins’ 13-game home winning streak.
Flames 5, Devils 4
Mikael Backlund reached 600 career points with a crucial third-period goal and John Beecher scored twice as Calgary held off New Jersey in Newark.
Backlund, an 18-year Calgary veteran, scored 4:10 into the third for his milestone point that made it 5-2. The Flames also received goals from former Devils Kevin Bahl and Yegor Sharangovich.
That cushion proved necessary as Jack Hughes scored midway through the third and brother Luke tallied in a 6-on-4 situation in the final seconds for New Jersey, which has lost two straight after winning four consecutive. Both Hughes brothers also recorded assists, while Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov scored.
Maple Leafs 6, Ducks 4
Matthew Knies recorded four points as Toronto defeated visiting Anaheim but lost captain Auston Matthews to a lower-body injury.
Matias Maccelli had three points while William Nylander and John Tavares each contributed two points for the Maple Leafs, who ended an eight-game winless streak at 0-6-2. Matthews and Benoit-Olivier Groulx also scored. Joseph Woll made 36 saves in Toronto’s first home victory since January 10, ending a 0-6-2 home skid.
Cutter Gauthier, Ian Moore, Pavel Mintyukov and Alex Killorn scored for Anaheim, which has lost two of three. Jeffrey Viel recorded two assists, and Lukas Dostal stopped 22 shots.
Blackhawks 3, Utah 2 (OT)
Connor Bedard scored with 1:03 left in overtime as Chicago defeated Utah in Salt Lake City for its second victory over the Central Division rival this week.
Bedard also added an assist as the Blackhawks completed a four-game season series sweep of Utah. Frank Nazar extended his points streak to five games with two points. Spencer Knight made 29 saves and ended a personal four-game losing streak at 0-3-1.
Dylan Guenther and JJ Peterka scored for Utah. Karel Vejmelka stopped 20 shots for the home team, which lost its third straight but is 3-1-2 in its last six.
Canucks 4, Predators 3 (SO)
Jake DeBrusk scored the lone shootout goal as Vancouver rallied to defeat visiting Nashville.
Marco Rossi had three points while Brock Boeser and Filip Hronek each contributed two points for the Canucks, who ended a five-game home winless streak at 0-3-2. Vancouver goalie Nikita Tolopilo was perfect in the shootout after making 16 saves through regulation and overtime.
Tyson Jost scored twice, Matthew Wood added a goal and Juuse Saros made 24 saves for Nashville, which is 3-4-3 in its last 10 games.
Golden Knights 6, Penguins 2
Pavel Dorofeyev recorded three points as Vegas ended a three-game losing streak with a convincing victory over Pittsburgh at home.
Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel each had two points, Colton Sissons and Brayden McNabb also scored and Braeden Bowman contributed two assists for the Golden Knights. Adin Hill made 24 saves.
Rickard Rakell and Ben Kindel scored while Ryan Shea had two assists for Pittsburgh, which took its fifth loss in six games at 1-3-2. Arturs Silovs finished with 11 saves.
Japanese officials say their country will announce participation in President Trump’s ambitious missile defense program during next week’s Washington summit, with expectations that the US may soon request help producing military equipment.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to reveal Japan’s commitment to the “Golden Dome” initiative when she sits down with President Trump on March 19 in Washington D.C., according to two government sources who spoke anonymously about the sensitive discussions.
Trump unveiled his Golden Dome concept last year with hopes of completing it by 2028. The program aims to enhance current ground-based missile interceptor systems by adding experimental space-based technology designed to spot, monitor and potentially neutralize incoming threats from orbit.
However, the initiative has shown limited concrete advancement to date, and specifics about Japan’s role remain undetermined.
The Yomiuri newspaper broke the story Friday, reporting that Tokyo views the program as potential protection against advanced hypersonic weapons currently under development by China and Russia.
Japanese officials believe Trump may ask their nation to manufacture or jointly develop missiles to replenish American weapons supplies that have been exhausted by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and American support for Ukraine, the sources indicated. Tokyo is still weighing how it would handle such requests.
In a significant policy shift late last year, Japan shipped Patriot surface-to-air missiles manufactured under licensing agreements to the United States, marking the first time the country exported lethal weapons after decades of prohibition.
The current administration is urging defense manufacturers to increase production of missiles and ammunition that have been depleted in recent conflicts. Meanwhile, Japan seeks to strengthen its own weapons stockpiles as a deterrent against China’s growing assertiveness and North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
Patriot missile systems have proven essential in stopping hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones targeting Gulf nations since the US and Israel began their aerial campaign against Iran this month.
Ukrainian forces have also depended on Patriot systems to protect critical energy facilities and military installations throughout Russia’s invasion that began in 2022.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is working to recover federal revenue following a Supreme Court decision last month that invalidated major tariff policies, but congressional Democrats warn the replacement measures will significantly burden American families.
A Democratic study released Friday projects that new import taxes will impose an average cost of $2,512 on U.S. households in 2026, representing a 44% increase from the $1,745 tariff burden families faced last year. This financial pressure comes as Americans already grapple with elevated living costs and rising energy prices amid the Iran conflict.
“Despite a Supreme Court ruling that much of Trump’s tariff agenda is illegal, the Trump administration refuses to provide relief for families,” said Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee. “As American families continue to struggle with high costs, the President keeps choosing to institute new tariffs that will push prices even higher.”
White House spokesman Kush Desai dismissed the analysis as “phony,” stating “President Trump will continue using tariffs to renegotiate broken trade deals, lower drug prices, and secure trillions in investments for the American people.”
The president had previously used the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to establish substantial tariffs on nearly all global trading partners last year.
However, the Supreme Court determined on February 20 that this legislation did not authorize presidential tariff authority. The ruling requires the government to issue refunds totaling approximately $175 billion to importers who paid the now-illegal IEEPA tariffs.
The administration has quickly implemented replacement tariffs, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stating that new levies “will result in virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026.”
Trump has already announced a 10% tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, with potential increases to 15%. These measures are limited to 150 days without congressional approval, and legal challenges are already underway against the Section 122 tariffs.
A more durable approach involves Section 301 of the same 1974 trade legislation, which permits presidential tariffs and sanctions against nations engaging in “unjustifiable,” “unreasonable” or “discriminatory” trade practices. Trump previously used Section 301 for Chinese import tariffs during his first term, which survived court challenges.
This Wednesday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced an extensive Section 301 investigation examining whether 16 trading partners, including China and the European Union, are overproducing goods and flooding global markets at the expense of American manufacturers.
“The United States will no longer sacrifice its industrial base to other countries that may be exporting their problems with excess capacity and production to us,” Greer stated. Industry experts anticipate this investigation will lead to substantial new tariffs.
“The fact that they launched 301 investigations is not surprising,” said trade lawyer Ryan Majerus, a partner at King & Spalding and former U.S. trade official. “We all knew that’s what they were going to pivot to. The challenge is that this is way more sprawling than anyone expected.” He noted the broad scope targeting multiple countries and the expansive nature of investigating excess industrial capacity and overproduction.
The administration is developing another Section 301 investigation focused on prohibiting imported goods produced through forced labor. Greer indicated Wednesday that additional Section 301 probes might address digital services taxes, pharmaceutical pricing, and ocean pollution.
Officials are also expected to expand use of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, allowing presidential tariffs on goods considered national security threats following Commerce Department investigations. Current Section 232 tariffs already cover steel, aluminum, automobiles, auto parts, and other products.
The Joint Economic Committee Democrats’ report indicates new tariffs will increase household financial burdens this year, partly because tariff revenue collection will occur year-round, unlike 2025 when Trump needed time to implement tariffs and occasionally suspended them.
The Democratic analysis assumes American households will bear 100% of tariff costs. They reference a Congressional Budget Office report finding that importers typically pass 70% of tariff costs to consumers. However, tariffs also enable domestic producers to raise prices due to reduced import competition and increased demand for their tariff-free products. The CBO concludes that combined costs from importers and higher domestic prices effectively mean consumers pay the entire U.S. tariff bill.
The administration’s renewed tariff strategy coincides with the Iran war driving up gasoline and commodity prices ahead of November’s midterm elections, while voters already express frustration over high costs.
“If the affordability and other political issues really start to become cumbersome, that certainly can impact all this,” Majerus said. “What the world’s going to look like two months from now is going to be very different from what it is now.”
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Military forces in South Africa have successfully shut down unlawful gold mining activities in a community located near Johannesburg, causing illegal operators to abandon their sites and equipment while fleeing the area.
Law enforcement and military personnel seized numerous pieces of mining equipment, including power generators and drilling machinery — items that were photographed by an Associated Press journalist on Thursday.
Temporary excavation sites containing food provisions and cooking equipment belonging to the miners were also destroyed, with personal belongings scattered throughout the area after the operators escaped from the location in Randfontein, situated approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Johannesburg.
These actions represent an uncommon decision by the government to send military personnel into some of the nation’s highest-crime regions, including areas in Western Cape province where Cape Town is located and Gauteng province, which serves as an economic center.
Illegal mining activities flourish in the region due to numerous deserted mine shafts surrounding Johannesburg’s outskirts, where well-armed criminal organizations and unofficial miners called ‘zama zamas’ descend into the shafts seeking remaining gold deposits or other valuable minerals.
Mining without proper government authorization is prohibited, and conditions in many locations pose serious safety risks.
Additional provinces containing abandoned mining sites, including North West and Mpumalanga, have also witnessed extensive illegal mining activities, sometimes resulting in deadly outcomes.
Government officials estimate approximately 30,000 unauthorized miners operate throughout South Africa, working within roughly 6,000 deserted mining shafts.
Officials have documented rising illegal mining activity, calculating that criminal organizations steal over $4 billion worth of gold annually.
The illegal trade appears to be primarily managed by individuals from nearby countries including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, creating tensions within South African communities toward both criminal leaders and foreign residents in local areas.
During Thursday’s parliamentary questioning, President Cyril Ramaphosa explained that military deployment would occur alongside additional measures, including enhanced anti-gang units and specialized illegal mining task forces.
‘The police will also be working with the National Prosecuting Authority on multi-disciplinary task teams to target the leadership, finances, firearms and logistics of these criminal networks,’ Ramaphosa said.
Chinese medical regulators made history Friday by becoming the first in the world to authorize commercial sales of a brain-computer interface system designed to help paralyzed individuals regain hand function.
The groundbreaking device, developed by Shanghai-based Borui Kang Medical Technology, represents a major milestone in neurotechnology aimed at restoring movement and communication capabilities for people living with various forms of paralysis.
Specifically engineered for individuals with quadriplegia resulting from cervical spinal cord damage, the system enables patients to regain their ability to grasp objects through the use of a specialized glove.
The technology operates as an invasive brain-computer interface, meaning electrodes are surgically placed directly into brain tissue rather than positioned on the brain’s surface. The system utilizes minimally invasive surgical techniques for electrode placement outside the brain’s protective covering and relies on wireless communication technology.
According to China’s National Medical Products Administration, brain-computer interface technologies like this newly approved device have received priority status from the government. Officials noted that Beijing has classified this sector as a “future industry” in the country’s most recent five-year development plan announced last week.
A prominent expert in brain-computer interface technology told Reuters recently that China could witness these systems entering widespread public application within the next three to five years as the technology advances. This development comes as Beijing works to compete with American companies in the field, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink venture.
The approved device has specific patient requirements for eligibility. Candidates must be between 18 and 60 years old and have sustained a particular type of spinal cord injury. Their medical diagnosis must be at least one year old, and they must maintain stable health for six months after receiving standard medical treatment. Qualifying patients cannot grasp with their hands but must still have some functioning in their upper arms.
Regulatory officials reported that clinical testing demonstrated notable improvements in participants’ hand-grasping capabilities. The agency stated these enhancements contributed to better overall quality of life for patients involved in the trials.
JAKARTA – Indonesian foreign ministry officials announced Friday that a scheduled gathering of eight prominent Muslim developing nations has been postponed from its planned April dates due to continuing conflict in the Middle East region.
The economic cooperation summit was originally planned for April 13-15 in Jakarta and would have brought together representatives from the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation member countries.
This organization, founded in 1997, includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey, spanning from Southeast Asia across to Africa with a focus on enhancing economic partnerships among member states.
Senior foreign ministry official Tri Tharyat informed reporters that officials have not yet established a replacement date for the postponed conference.
The ongoing military actions between the United States and Israel against Iran, which began February 28, have prompted retaliatory strikes from Iran targeting both Israel and Gulf nations hosting American military installations.
The last D-8 summit took place in Egypt during 2024.
Travelers worldwide are facing massive financial losses and trip disruptions as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran forces airlines to cancel flights and close airspace across the Middle East region.
Natasha Earle, an accountant from Dardanup in Western Australia, is experiencing firsthand the financial impact of the war. Her family’s planned five-week European vacation – which they booked through Emirates last May to visit London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Rome – now costs an additional A$10,000 ($7,000) due to necessary rerouting around the conflict zone.
“We’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on this holiday,” Earle explained, with her departure scheduled for later this month during what experts call the most significant global travel disruption since COVID-19. “We should get at least half of that back from Emirates eventually.”
The crisis highlights how regional conflicts can instantly paralyze international aviation, since the Gulf region serves as a crucial hub for worldwide commercial flights. Rising costs, reduced capacity, and shattered vacation plans are becoming commonplace as the situation continues.
Aircraft have been forced to circle near Dubai regularly due to drone and missile attacks as the conflict enters its third week. The disruption is severely affecting Middle Eastern tourism, an industry valued at approximately $367 billion per year for the region.
Data from Cirium shows that Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways collectively transport over half of all passengers traveling between Europe and Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding Pacific islands under normal circumstances.
The war has resulted in widespread airspace closures throughout the Middle East due to missile and drone threats, leading to tens of thousands of flight cancellations, route changes, and schedule modifications globally, affecting millions of travelers.
Jacob Brown, a 34-year-old New Zealand citizen residing in Doha, Qatar, was forced to drive across the Saudi Arabian desert to Riyadh to catch a London-bound flight after Qatar Airways canceled his direct flight to New Zealand, where he was scheduled to serve as best man at a wedding.
His journey, which typically takes under 24 hours, stretched to several days due to closed airspace, additional flight complications, delays and missing luggage.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking flying out of Riyadh just considering that that morning, there had been a few missile interceptions south of the capital,” Brown recounted.
Aditya Kushwaha, an Australian disability support worker from Orange near Sydney, has planned a family trip to London and Paris from April 13-29 through Emirates via Dubai, but remains uncertain whether the journey will proceed.
“We are very much in a dilemma of what to do,” Kushwaha stated, estimating potential losses exceeding $10,000 if he cancels, with the financial ability to reschedule potentially years away.
Australian traveler Kellee Smith describes how her “dream holiday” to Europe scheduled for late March – planned a full year in advance – has transformed into a “nightmare” costing her roughly A$5,500 in additional expenses.
“I’ve had many sleepless nights as I was stressed thinking I’m going to lose my dream holiday … and all the money we paid,” Smith shared.
She awaits an Emirates refund exceeding A$4,000 while securing alternative flights through Cathay Pacific and Qantas that route through Asia instead of the Middle East.
The conflict has significantly reduced the already limited flight corridor options for long-distance routes between Europe and Asia, creating operational challenges for international airlines and driving ticket prices dramatically higher.
As the war impacts businesses globally and pushes oil prices upward, concerns about jet fuel costs and availability are pressuring airlines. Many carriers are implementing fuel surcharges while others, including Air New Zealand, are reducing flight schedules.
The International Energy Agency reports that the war is generating the largest oil supply disruption in recorded history. Some analysts warn that airlines could face jet fuel shortages within weeks, with Vietnam announcing this week that aviation fuel shortages could begin as early as April due to the conflict.
In Bath, England, John Moore, 81, and his wife Pauline – who call themselves “travel virgins” – paid “a couple of hundred pounds” extra to switch their Brisbane-bound flights from Qatar Airways to Qantas, choosing to transit through Singapore rather than the Middle East.
“We decided we’d rather pay the extra to book via Singapore, which is no guarantee, but clearly it’s likely to be safer than the current route,” Moore told reporters.
Some travelers are avoiding the risk entirely. Sumit Sharma, a Sydney resident employed by Westpac Banking Corp., had originally planned Etihad Airways travel to Dubai with his family but changed destinations after confirming refund eligibility.
“We changed the plan from the Middle East to Hong Kong,” Sharma explained, noting his switch to Cathay Pacific and excitement about taking his son to Disneyland.
Shobana Gopal, a senior consultant with Alliance Insurance in Sydney, redirected her family’s travel plans to China instead of flying through Dubai to reach Austria.
“We’re going to three cities in China,” Gopal announced.
Qantas reports increased passenger preference for European routes via the United States, other Asian cities, and Johannesburg, South Africa, utilizing their partner airline network.
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific announced this week that the airline is experiencing “drastic changes in terms of demand patterns due to the Middle East situation,” while budget carrier Ryanair noted a booking surge for European destinations as travelers avoid Middle Eastern routes.
Lufthansa reported surging demand for European routes, with the German airline noting that 12-month advance bookings for direct Asian flights increased 75% compared to the previous year.
“The large Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates and Etihad can’t fly the routes they should, and therefore the European and Asian airlines have to pick up that traffic,” explained aviation specialist Hans Joergen Elnaes.
Authorities in the Netherlands have launched an investigation following an intentional fire set at a Rotterdam synagogue during the early morning hours on Friday, marking another incident in a series of suspected antisemitic attacks occurring internationally.
The blaze caused no injuries and has been extinguished, according to local law enforcement officials, who report no suspects have been taken into custody at this time.
Rotterdam police detailed the incident on social media, stating: “Around 3:40 a.m., a fire was started at the synagogue.” Officials added that “The fire burned for a short time before extinguishing,” and are requesting anyone with information or evidence to contact authorities.
This attack follows a similar incident earlier this week when a synagogue in Belgium, located approximately 124 miles from the Rotterdam site, was damaged by an explosion on Monday. Belgian officials have classified that incident as an antisemitic attack, though it also resulted in no casualties.
Across the Atlantic, another violent incident occurred in Michigan, where a Lebanese-born American citizen deliberately drove his vehicle into a synagogue and its affiliated preschool before being fatally shot by authorities.
Security concerns for Jewish communities worldwide have intensified amid ongoing tensions following recent military actions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, including airstrikes and retaliatory responses between the nations.
Leading financial institutions have updated their oil price projections for 2026 as the Iranian conflict reached nearly two weeks on Friday, with Goldman Sachs and Bank of America among the major firms adjusting their forecasts.
Energy market specialists predict oil costs will stay high in the immediate future while they evaluate potential supply chain interruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway handling more than one-fifth of worldwide oil transportation. Most analysts predict market stabilization in the latter part of the year.
Both Brent and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed to their peak levels since June 2022 during this week’s trading, with Brent posting gains exceeding 10% and WTI rising more than 7% for the week.
Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, declared on Thursday his intention to maintain the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining tool against the United States and Israel, while the ongoing Middle Eastern crisis continues affecting millions of people and creating instability in global energy and financial sectors.
Goldman Sachs has set Brent crude targets at $77 per barrel for 2026 and $71 for 2027, with WTI projections at $72 and $67 respectively. The firm anticipates Brent will average $75 per barrel over the next three months and $71 per barrel over the coming year.
BMI Research forecasts Brent at $70 per barrel for both 2026 and 2027, with WTI estimates at $68 for each year. They project Brent will average $67 per barrel in the third quarter of 2026 and $69 per barrel in the fourth quarter.
Citigroup has established Brent targets at $71 for 2026 and $64 for 2027, with WTI projections at $68 and $61. The bank sees Brent averaging $75 per barrel in the first quarter of 2026, $78 in the second quarter, and $68 in the third quarter.
Bank of America projects Brent at $78 per barrel for 2026 and $65 for 2027, with WTI estimates at $73 and $61. The bank expects Brent to average $80 per barrel in the second quarter of 2026, but anticipates a return to $65 per barrel averages in 2027 as pre-conflict supply surpluses return.
HSBC has set higher targets with Brent at $80 for 2026 and $70 for 2027, projecting WTI at $76 and $67 respectively.
Macquarie Bank warns that crude prices could potentially surge to $150 per barrel or higher if the Strait of Hormuz blockade continues for multiple weeks.
UBS forecasts Brent at $72 for 2026 and $70 for 2027, with WTI at $68 and $66. The bank anticipates prices could climb above $100 per barrel and reach severe demand destruction levels of $120 or more if Hormuz shipping lanes remain blocked.
Federal airport security screeners across the nation have been reporting to work without receiving paychecks since February 14th as the ongoing partial federal government shutdown persists.
A Morning Edition investigation recently examined the current state of airport security checkpoints by visiting three different airports to observe firsthand how the financial strain on Transportation Security Administration workers is impacting daily operations.
The unpaid TSA personnel continue to staff security lines and conduct passenger screenings despite the financial hardship caused by the extended government shutdown.
Families throughout New England are experiencing financial strain as energy costs surge across the region. The harsh winter weather combined with escalating home heating oil expenses tied to Middle Eastern conflicts is creating budget challenges for many households.
The dual impact of severe cold temperatures and elevated fuel costs is making it increasingly difficult for residents to manage their monthly expenses, putting additional pressure on family finances during an already challenging season.
American companies that produce liquefied natural gas are experiencing a surge in business as international buyers seek energy alternatives during the Iranian conflict.
The war has created heightened demand for U.S. energy exports as nations look to secure reliable fuel sources outside the volatile Middle East region. Energy producers across the country are capitalizing on this increased international appetite for American-made liquefied natural gas.
A Chicago mother whose life was turned upside down by an apartment fire in 2019 discovered an unexpected silver lining in the form of a lasting friendship with her Red Cross helper.
The woman’s story was captured in a StoryCorps interview where she sat down with the Red Cross volunteer who provided assistance during her recovery process following the devastating blaze.
The interview highlights how the volunteer’s support during one of the most difficult periods in the mother’s life blossomed into a meaningful, long-term relationship that continues to this day.
Their conversation demonstrates how acts of service during times of crisis can create bonds that extend far beyond the initial emergency response.
Federal investigators are looking into two distinct violent incidents that are not connected to each other, according to the FBI.
The bureau is examining an assault that took place at a synagogue located in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, as well as a separate shooting incident that occurred inside a classroom at a university in Norfolk, Virginia.
Authorities have confirmed that these two cases are unrelated to one another and are being handled as separate investigations.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect for Delaware beaches and parts of southern New Jersey until 10:00 AM Tuesday morning, creating hazardous driving conditions along the coast.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly issued the advisory Monday evening, warning residents that visibility could drop to just one-quarter to one-half mile in the thick fog. The advisory affects Delaware’s coastal areas and extends into Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean counties in New Jersey.
Drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution during the morning commute Tuesday. If you must travel, the National Weather Service recommends slowing down, using your headlights, and maintaining extra distance between vehicles. Low visibility makes driving conditions particularly dangerous on coastal highways and bridges.
The dense fog developed Monday evening as atmospheric conditions created the perfect recipe for reduced visibility along the shoreline. Commuters should allow extra time for travel and consider alternate routes if possible.
The fog advisory is expected to lift by mid-morning Tuesday as conditions improve. Stay with TV Delmarva for the latest weather updates and traffic conditions throughout your morning commute.
SALLA, Finland (AP) — Hundreds of spectators gathered in the icy Finnish community of Salla over the weekend to witness the annual Salla Reindeer Cup, a time-honored racing tradition that has captivated audiences for generations.
The weekend event showcased Finland’s longstanding reindeer racing heritage, drawing enthusiasts to the frozen northern town on both Saturday and Sunday for the competitive spectacle.
This coverage features a collection of images selected by Associated Press photography staff.
Federal aviation officials suspended all JetBlue Airways operations nationwide on Tuesday after the airline itself asked for the halt, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The flight suspension affects JetBlue aircraft traveling to every destination in the carrier’s network, based on the official notice.
Neither JetBlue nor federal aviation authorities have explained the reason behind the airline’s request for the operational halt or provided details about when normal flight operations might resume.
Both the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration have not yet responded to requests for additional information from news organizations.
JetBlue Airways, which began operations more than two and a half decades ago, operates from its main headquarters in New York City and maintains its primary hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport in that city.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect for Delaware’s coastal areas and parts of southern New Jersey until 10 AM Tuesday morning, creating hazardous driving conditions across the region.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory Monday evening, warning of dense fog reducing visibility to just one-quarter to one-half mile. The advisory affects Delaware Beaches along with Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean counties in New Jersey.
The thick fog is expected to persist through the overnight hours and into Tuesday morning’s commute, potentially creating dangerous conditions for drivers heading to work or school.
Officials are urging motorists to exercise extreme caution if they must travel during the advisory period. Drivers should reduce their speed significantly, use low-beam headlights, and maintain extra distance between vehicles. High-beam headlights should be avoided as they can reflect off the fog and actually reduce visibility further.
The fog advisory is scheduled to expire at 10 AM Tuesday, though conditions may begin improving earlier in some areas as morning temperatures rise.
TV Delmarva will continue monitoring conditions and provide updates as weather circumstances change throughout the night and into Tuesday morning.
German tennis player Alexander Zverev has reached a historic milestone after advancing to the semi-finals at Indian Wells, making him just the fifth player ever to reach the final four at all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.
Following his commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Arthur Fils on Thursday, Zverev joined tennis legends Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray in this exclusive achievement. The Masters tournaments rank as the sport’s second-most prestigious events, trailing only the Grand Slam competitions.
“It’s very special to be one of five players in history to ever do it. It’s something that I’m very proud of. It’s a great thing to have in your career,” Zverev shared with the media.
The accomplishment comes as Zverev pursues his eighth Masters championship. His next challenge will be facing world number two Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, marking his first opportunity to defeat the Italian player since 2023.
Sinner currently dominates their rivalry, having claimed victory in their previous five encounters, giving him a 6-4 advantage in their career matchups.
Reflecting on their competitive history, Zverev acknowledged the tight nature of their battles. “I think we had quite tight matches. Even the last few were tight except the one in Paris, where I was hurt,” he said, referencing his loss to Sinner at last year’s Paris Masters.
“It’s always a challenge. He’s been one of the two best players in the world the last two years. Him and Carlos Alcaraz won all the Grand Slams and the big events,” Zverev continued. “Of course it’s a challenge, but it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to.”
BEIJING, March 13 – Chinese officials on Friday criticized a recent United States trade investigation examining alleged excessive industrial production capacity, stating they maintain the authority to implement counter-responses as both countries prepare for upcoming trade discussions this weekend.
According to China’s Commerce Ministry statement, the United States lacks authority to “unilaterally” assess whether a trade partner maintains “overcapacity” via its Section 301 investigation process and implement one-sided restrictive actions.
When the US announced its investigations Wednesday targeting excessive industrial capacity and forced labor practices, China was identified among the trade partners under scrutiny.
The ministry stated that China is evaluating these investigations and maintains the authority to implement all necessary actions to protect its rights and interests.
On Friday, a representative from China’s Foreign Ministry rejected the forced labor accusations, describing them as “a lie concocted by the U.S.”
These trade investigations contribute to challenging topics that Beijing and Washington must address while preparing for US President Donald Trump’s scheduled Beijing visit at March’s end to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed Friday that the France trade discussions are anticipated to establish foundations for the upcoming summit.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will head a delegation to France from March 14 through March 17 for these negotiations, while the American delegation is anticipated to feature Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
This represents the sixth negotiation round since Trump previously targeted Beijing with increased tariffs last year. Beijing responded with export restrictions on essential minerals and implemented its own tariff actions, elevating import duties on mutual goods to restrictive amounts.
Following a ceasefire achieved through earlier negotiations and a leaders’ meeting in South Korea during late October, both China and the United States have subsequently reversed most of their trade restrictions.
Top-ranked Duke survived a major scare Thursday evening, narrowly defeating Florida State 80-79 in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals held in Charlotte.
Isaiah Evans delivered a standout performance with a personal-best 32 points to help the Blue Devils (30-2) advance to the semifinals against Clemson. Duke is now pursuing what could be their third conference championship in four years under head coach Jon Scheyer.
The victory came despite Duke missing two key starters due to injuries – Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster. Freshman standout Cameron Boozer contributed significantly with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists to support the Blue Devils’ effort.
Florida State (18-15) mounted a strong challenge behind Lajae Jones’ 28 points and Robert McCray V’s 25-point contribution. Chauncey Wiggins also added 13 points for the Seminoles.
The game’s final moments proved dramatic, with Duke clinging to a one-point advantage with 37.8 seconds remaining. The Blue Devils attempted to run down the clock on their subsequent possession, but Boozer’s 14-foot shot was blocked by Alex Steen. Florida State quickly moved the ball downcourt but couldn’t capitalize, as McCray’s three-point attempt fell short at the buzzer.
In other tournament action, No. 10 Virginia defeated North Carolina State 81-74, with Malik Thomas scoring 16 crucial points and Thijs De Ridder adding 15. The second-seeded Cavaliers (28-4) will face Miami in the semifinals after reserve Jacari White contributed 13 points and Sam Lewis hit four three-pointers for 12 points.
Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso made history with eight blocked shots, tying for the second-highest total in tournament history. Paul McNeil Jr. led NC State with 26 points on six three-pointers, while Ven-Allen Lubin recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the seventh-seeded Wolfpack (20-13).
Clemson pulled off an upset victory over No. 19 North Carolina 80-79, with Nick Davidson recording 17 points and 11 rebounds for the fifth-seeded Tigers. The fourth-seeded Tar Heels nearly completed a comeback, cutting the deficit to one point with 2.9 seconds left on Derek Dixon’s three-pointer, assisted by Seth Trimble. However, Jarin Stevenson’s desperation half-court shot fell short at the final buzzer.
Six Clemson players (24-9) reached double figures in scoring. North Carolina (24-8) received a career performance from Henri Veesaar, who posted 28 points and 17 rebounds, while Dixon finished with 16 points.
Miami advanced by defeating No. 24 Louisville 78-73, powered by Malik Reneau’s 24 points and crucial second-half plays. The third-seeded Hurricanes (25-7) got additional scoring from bench player Tru Washington with 17 points and Tre Donaldson’s 14 points and six assists.
Louisville’s Ryan Conwell scored 22 points for the sixth-seeded Cardinals (23-10), but struggled from long range, making just one of 10 three-point attempts. The Cardinals shot only 25% from beyond the arc as a team. J’Vonne Hadley added 19 points in the losing effort.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander etched his name in NBA history Thursday night, breaking a 63-year-old record held by legendary Wilt Chamberlain while leading his team to a narrow 104-102 victory over the Boston Celtics.
The reigning MVP reached 35 points in the contest, marking his 127th consecutive game with at least 20 points and surpassing Chamberlain’s long-standing record. The Thunder secured their seventh straight win when Chet Holmgren converted two crucial free throws with just 0.8 seconds remaining, while Boston’s Payton Pritchard missed a desperation three-pointer at the final buzzer.
Boston put up a strong fight despite playing without key players. Jaylen Brown delivered an impressive performance with 34 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. The Celtics were missing Jayson Tatum, who was held out for injury management following his recent return from a 10-month Achilles injury layoff, and Derrick White, who sat due to a right knee contusion.
The record-breaking moment came in the third quarter when Gilgeous-Alexander, defended by Baylor Scheierman, picked up his dribble near the free-throw line. After moving the ball side to side to create space, he pulled up for a 20-foot jumper that found its mark, tying the game and setting the new record to thunderous applause from the home crowd.
Nuggets 136, Spurs 131
Denver mounted an impressive comeback from a 20-point deficit to defeat San Antonio, powered by Jamal Murray’s 39 points and Nikola Jokic’s monster triple-double of 31 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists.
San Antonio played without star Victor Wembanyama, who was sidelined with right ankle soreness in his first missed game since January 3rd. The Spurs are now 10-5 this season without their young superstar. Stephon Castle recorded his third career triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Despite arriving in the early morning hours after playing the previous night, Denver dominated the final quarter 42-25 to complete the comeback victory.
Lakers 142, Bulls 130
Luka Doncic exploded for 51 points while adding 10 rebounds and nine assists, with Austin Reaves contributing 30 points as Los Angeles extended their winning streak to four games against visiting Chicago.
Deandre Ayton recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Lakers win their sixth consecutive home contest and climb to third place in the Western Conference standings. The 51-point outburst marked Doncic’s eighth career 50-point game and his first since joining Los Angeles.
Chicago got strong performances from Josh Giddey (27 points, 15 assists) and Matas Buzelis (22 points), but fell to 3-3 following their recent 11-game losing streak.
Suns 123, Pacers 108
Phoenix extended their winning streak to four games behind Devin Booker’s 43 points and Jalen Green’s 36-point contribution in a road victory over Indiana.
Royce O’Neale added 15 points for the Suns, who built a 16-point fourth-quarter advantage and improved to a season-best 12 games above .500. Phoenix has now won six of their last seven contests.
The loss dropped Indiana to their 11th straight defeat, giving them the league’s worst record at 15-51. Andrew Nembhard paced the Pacers with 23 points, while several role players contributed in double figures.
Pistons 131, 76ers 109
Detroit dominated a short-handed Philadelphia squad as Duncan Robinson led seven players in double figures with 19 points for the Eastern Conference leaders.
Javonte Green scored 17 points, while Tobias Harris and Ronald Holland each added 15 for the Pistons. All-Star Cade Cunningham facilitated the offense with 13 assists to go along with eight points.
Philadelphia also had seven players reach double figures, led by MarJon Beauchamp’s 17 points, but couldn’t match Detroit’s balanced attack.
Magic 136, Wizards 131 (OT)
Orlando survived a late Washington rally to win in overtime, with Jalen Suggs hitting the decisive three-pointer with 1:27 remaining in the extra period. Suggs finished with 28 points, while Tristan da Silva posted a career-high 26.
The Magic extended their winning streak to six games despite nearly blowing a large lead. Bilal Coulibaly led all scorers with a career-high 29 points for Washington and forced overtime with a game-tying 26-footer with 5.8 seconds left in regulation.
Heat 112, Bucks 105
Miami won their season-high seventh consecutive game as Pelle Larsson scored a career-high 28 points with six rebounds and six assists against Milwaukee.
Bam Adebayo, coming off an 83-point performance earlier in the week, struggled early but finished with 21 points. The Bucks never held a lead and suffered their third straight loss, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way with 31 points.
Hawks 108, Nets 97
Atlanta extended their winning streak to eight games with a victory over visiting Brooklyn, matching the franchise’s longest streak since March 2021.
Jalen Johnson nearly recorded a triple-double with 21 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, while Zaccharie Risacher added 19 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Josh Minott led Brooklyn with 24 points in the losing effort.
Mavericks 120, Grizzlies 112
Dallas snapped an eight-game losing streak with a road victory over Memphis, led by Khris Middleton’s season-high 35 points, including 22 in the fourth quarter. Daniel Gafford contributed 22 points and 14 rebounds.
The win ended a difficult stretch for the Mavericks, who had lost 18 of their previous 20 games. Jaylen Wells paced Memphis with 23 points in the defeat.
UCLA’s Donovan Dent made Big Ten tournament history Thursday night, becoming the first player to achieve a triple-double in the conference tournament while helping the sixth-seeded Bruins defeat 14th-seeded Rutgers 72-59 in Chicago.
Dent’s milestone performance featured 12 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, making him just the fifth UCLA player in program history to record a triple-double. Tyler Bilodeau led all scorers with 21 points for the Bruins, while Trent Perry contributed 12 points and Eric Dailey Jr. added 10 to the winning effort.
The victory advances UCLA (22-10) to Friday’s quarterfinal round, where they’ll meet third-seeded and eighth-ranked Michigan State.
Rutgers (14-19) saw their two-game winning streak come to an end, with Lino Mark providing 17 points as their only player to reach double figures.
In other Big Ten tournament action, No. 23 Wisconsin knocked out Washington 85-82 behind John Blackwell’s explosive 34-point performance that included six three-pointers. The fifth-seeded Badgers got additional support from Nick Boyd’s 23 points and nine assists, setting up a Friday quarterfinal against fourth-seeded and ninth-ranked Illinois.
Wisconsin (23-9) dominated from beyond the arc, connecting on 15 of 39 three-point attempts compared to Washington’s 7 of 23 shooting from long range. The 12th-seeded Huskies (16-17) received strong efforts from freshman Hannes Steinbach, who posted 25 points and 16 rebounds for his 22nd double-double, and Zoom Diallo, who added 24 points and seven assists.
No. 18 Purdue advanced with an 81-68 victory over Northwestern, as seventh-seeded Boilermakers got 19 points each from Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff, with Cluff also grabbing 10 rebounds. Braden Smith set a new Big Ten tournament single-game record with 16 assists for Purdue (24-8), which dominated inside with a 38-18 advantage in paint scoring and never fell behind during the contest.
The Boilermakers will face Nebraska in their quarterfinal matchup after eliminating 15th-seeded Northwestern (15-19), despite 25 points from Nick Martinelli and 19 points with nine assists from Jayden Reid.
Ohio State survived a thriller against Iowa, winning 72-69 as Bruce Thornton scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half and Christoph Tilly contributed 16 points. The eighth-seeded Buckeyes (21-11) held off multiple late rallies from ninth-seeded Iowa (21-12) after building a 16-point second-half lead, advancing to face top-seeded rival Michigan in the quarterfinals.
Iowa’s comeback attempt fell just short when they missed two potential game-tying three-point shots in the final four seconds. Bennett Stirtz led the Hawkeyes with 17 points, while Cam Manyawu and Tavion Banks each scored nine. Amare Bynum added 11 points for Ohio State, and Thornton tied Iowa’s Alvaro Folgueiras with six rebounds apiece.
FC Cincinnati seized control of their CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 matchup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Mexico’s Tigres UANL on Thursday night, putting themselves in excellent position heading into the second leg.
Kevin Denkey led the offensive charge with a pair of goals, while Tom Barlow contributed the other score in what was a thoroughly dominant performance by the home side.
Cincinnati wasted no time establishing their dominance, finding the back of the net in under six minutes. Ender Echenique delivered a perfect pass from the right edge of the penalty area, finding Denkey unmarked just 8 yards from goal for a straightforward finish.
The hosts extended their advantage in the 53rd minute when Barlow finished off a beautiful team counterattack that stretched from one end of the field to the other.
Denkey put the finishing touches on Cincinnati’s impressive display in the 83rd minute. Gerardo Valenzuela threaded a brilliant long ball through the Tigres defense, allowing Denkey to unleash a powerful right-footed strike from just beyond the penalty area that beat goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman.
The second leg of this total-goal series takes place March 19 in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico. The winner will face either Vancouver Whitecaps or Seattle Sounders in the quarterfinal round.
In the other round-of-16 matchup, Seattle took a commanding lead over Vancouver with a 3-0 road victory. Paul Arriola netted twice for the Sounders, who will host the return leg Wednesday in Spokane, Washington.
Arriola opened the scoring in the 45th minute after a Vancouver turnover led to a Seattle counterattack. Jesus Ferreira provided the assist, setting up Arriola for an 8-yard finish into an empty net.
The second Arriola goal came with some fortune in the 58th minute. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi’s cross from the right wing deflected off a Whitecaps defender and fell perfectly for Arriola to score.
Paul Rothrock completed the scoring in the 70th minute, converting at the far post after a cross intended for Danny Musovski sailed through to him instead.
A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect across much of the Delmarva Peninsula tonight through Tuesday morning, with visibility dropping to just one quarter mile or less in some areas.
The advisory begins at midnight tonight and continues until 10:00 AM Tuesday morning, affecting Kent and Inland Sussex Counties in Delaware, Talbot County in Maryland, and parts of southern New Jersey including Western Monmouth, Atlantic, Cumberland, Ocean, and Southeastern Burlington Counties.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory at 7:33 PM Monday evening, warning that the thick fog will create hazardous driving conditions during the overnight hours and Tuesday morning commute.
“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” officials warned in the advisory.
Drivers are urged to take extra precautions if they must travel during the advisory period. The National Weather Service recommends slowing down, using headlights, and leaving plenty of distance between vehicles.
Commuters should plan for additional travel time Tuesday morning as visibility conditions could significantly impact traffic flow on major roadways throughout the region.
The fog is expected to gradually lift Tuesday morning, with conditions improving by 10:00 AM. Stay with TV Delmarva for continued weather updates throughout your Tuesday morning commute.
A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for coastal areas of the Delmarva Peninsula tonight through Tuesday morning, with visibility dropping to just one-quarter to one-half mile in some areas.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory at 7:33 PM Sunday, warning residents and travelers of hazardous driving conditions that could persist until 10:00 AM Tuesday. The thick fog is expected to blanket Delaware’s beaches and several New Jersey coastal counties, including Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean areas.
Motorists planning to travel during overnight and early morning hours should exercise extreme caution. The National Weather Service strongly recommends reducing speed, using headlights, and maintaining extra distance between vehicles when visibility becomes limited.
‘Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,’ weather officials warned in the advisory.
The fog is expected to gradually lift throughout Tuesday morning, with conditions improving by mid-morning. Commuters should allow extra travel time and consider delaying non-essential trips if possible.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continued weather updates and traffic conditions throughout the advisory period.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect for Delaware’s coastal areas and several South Jersey counties until 10 AM Tuesday morning, creating hazardous driving conditions with visibility dropping to just one-quarter to one-half mile.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory Monday evening, warning residents in Delaware Beaches along with Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean counties in New Jersey to exercise extreme caution while traveling.
The thick fog is significantly reducing visibility across the region, making driving particularly dangerous during the overnight hours and Tuesday morning commute. Motorists should expect slower traffic and potential delays on major roadways including Route 1, Route 9, and the Garden State Parkway.
Safety officials urge drivers to slow down, use headlights, and maintain extra distance between vehicles. If visibility becomes too poor, pull over safely and wait for conditions to improve.
The fog is expected to gradually lift Tuesday morning as temperatures rise. The advisory is set to expire at 10 AM, though patchy fog may linger in some areas through mid-morning.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing weather updates and traffic conditions throughout your Tuesday morning commute.
Federal agriculture officials are working to update administrative procedures for a nationwide livestock disease prevention initiative.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced plans to seek approval for changes to data collection requirements tied to the joint State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program. The agency is also requesting an extension of current approval for these information-gathering activities.
This administrative action follows protocols established under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which requires federal agencies to justify and periodically review their data collection practices.
The brucellosis eradication program represents a collaborative effort between federal and state authorities to eliminate this livestock disease, which can affect cattle and other animals.
Federal agriculture authorities have completed a comprehensive safety evaluation regarding the potential importation of fresh sweet potatoes from South Korea to the United States mainland.
The assessment examines potential dangers that could arise from bringing Korean-grown sweet potato roots into the country for food consumption. At present, these fresh sweet potato imports are only permitted into Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
According to the completed evaluation, officials have concluded that implementing specific plant health safety protocols would adequately address concerns about introducing harmful insects, plant diseases, or invasive weeds through Korean sweet potato shipments to the continental United States.
The risk assessment document is now available for public examination and feedback as part of the regulatory review process.
Australia’s flagship airline Qantas Airways announced Tuesday that it will raise ticket prices on international flights this week as jet fuel expenses climb due to ongoing Middle East conflicts.
In a company statement, the Australian carrier revealed it is also evaluating the possibility of expanding service capacity on current European flight paths over the next several months.
The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has driven oil prices higher, disrupting international travel patterns and raising concerns about potential widespread flight cancellations and a significant downturn in the travel industry.
Ticket costs for flights between Asia and Europe have already jumped sharply as airlines face restricted airspace access and reduced flight availability.
Earlier the same day, Air New Zealand, which competes with Qantas, revealed similar widespread price increases, marking one of the first major airlines to implement such changes since the conflict began.
In an email response to Reuters, Qantas reported that its European flight schedule remains unchanged and planes are operating at more than 90% capacity during March, representing approximately 15 percentage points higher than normal occupancy rates for this period.
“More customers have also been choosing to travel to Europe via the United States, other Asian cities, and Johannesburg, connecting through Qantas’ partner airline network,” Qantas said.
“We are exploring options to redeploy capacity into Europe on existing routes in the coming months.”
Ottawa Senators goaltender James Reimer delivered a flawless performance Monday night, turning away all 16 shots he encountered to secure a 2-0 victory over the struggling Vancouver Canucks and earn his 32nd career shutout.
The victory marked Ottawa’s third consecutive win and capped off an impressive 4-0-1 road trip for the Senators, who remain outside playoff position in the Eastern Conference but are building momentum with a 5-0-2 record over their last seven contests.
Ridly Greig provided the game’s lone goal during regulation, finding the back of the net midway through the second period. Tim Stutzle added an assist on Brady Tkachuk’s empty-net goal, extending his point streak to 13 games.
Making his first start since February 5th, Reimer faced minimal pressure throughout most of the contest but came up big when needed, including a crucial pad save on Zeev Buium in the closing moments. The veteran netminder, who joined Ottawa in January, has compiled a 4-3-1 record with a 2.53 goals-against average for his new team.
Reimer’s last shutout occurred on April 8th against Carolina while he was still with Buffalo. After being released by Toronto following preseason camp, he has found new life as Linus Ullmark’s backup in Ottawa.
Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen performed admirably between the pipes, making 22 saves, but received little offensive support from his teammates. The Canucks managed fewer than 20 shots on goal for the ninth time this season.
The loss continued Vancouver’s dismal campaign, dropping them to a league-worst 46 points while extending their current slump to 4-20-5. The Canucks have now dropped five consecutive home games, with their last three defeats coming in regulation.
Scoring remained elusive through the opening period and much of the second frame, with both teams combining for just 12 shots in the first 20 minutes. Ottawa finally broke through with 9:49 left in the middle period when Greig corralled a loose puck in the slot and beat Lankinen.
Despite playing without star defenseman Jake Sanderson, who was sidelined with an upper-body injury, Ottawa’s defensive unit effectively contained Vancouver’s attack throughout the evening. The Senators have now allowed two goals or fewer in five of their past seven games.
The Los Angeles Clippers achieved a milestone Monday evening, defeating the New York Knicks 126-118 to return to an even .500 record for the first time in over four months.
Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 29 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in the victory. Coming off the bench, Bennedict Mathurin contributed 28 points and seven rebounds as Los Angeles improved to 32-32 on the season.
The Clippers last held an even record on November 3rd when they stood at 3-3 before falling to Miami. Since hitting rock bottom at 6-21, the team has steadily climbed back to respectability.
Darius Garland knocked down five three-pointers en route to 23 points and seven assists, helping Los Angeles secure their fifth victory in six contests. Brook Lopez and Derrick Jones Jr. each contributed 16 points to the winning effort.
For New York, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered an outstanding performance with 35 points on efficient 13-of-17 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out late in the game.
Jalen Brunson tallied 28 points and eight assists for the Knicks, while OG Anunoby chipped in 22 points. Josh Hart contributed a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds as New York fell to 1-2 on their current five-game road swing.
Los Angeles shot effectively from the field at 46.2% and was particularly lethal from beyond the arc, connecting on 18 of 39 three-point attempts (46.2%). The Knicks shot 51.1% overall but managed just 14 of 40 (35%) from three-point territory, though they dominated the boards with a 51-36 rebounding edge.
The contest remained competitive throughout the fourth quarter. Mikal Bridges connected from long range to pull New York within 92-86 with 9:50 remaining in regulation.
However, Garland responded with five straight points, and Leonard completed a three-point play to cap an 8-2 surge that extended the Clippers’ advantage to 100-88 with 8:45 left on the clock.
New York battled back within 109-104 on an Anunoby three-pointer with 3:56 to go, but Lopez immediately answered with his own three-pointer just 17 seconds later to halt the Knicks’ momentum.
Hart’s three-point play brought the visitors within five points again with 2:36 remaining, but Mathurin converted his own three-point opportunity to push Los Angeles ahead 115-107 with 2:03 left.
Jones added a three-pointer and Leonard sank two free throws to give the Clippers an 11-point cushion with 1:18 remaining, effectively sealing the victory.
Earlier in the third quarter, Towns had connected on a remarkable 30-foot three-pointer to bring New York within six points with 7:31 left in the period.
Leonard paced all scorers in the opening half with 21 points as Los Angeles took a 64-55 lead into the break. Towns and Brunson combined for 40 points in the first half, scoring 21 and 19 respectively.
The Clippers carried an 88-81 advantage into the fourth quarter before closing out the important victory.
A heated legal dispute between two electric aircraft manufacturers has escalated, with Archer Aviation filing serious allegations against competitor Joby Aviation regarding undisclosed Chinese government connections.
In a countersuit submitted to federal court on Monday, Archer claims that Joby engaged in fraudulent activities by concealing its relationship with China while securing U.S. government funding and advantages. The lawsuit alleges that Joby misrepresented aircraft materials from China as consumer products to avoid tariffs and regulatory scrutiny.
The legal battle began when Joby took Archer to court in November, claiming trade secret theft. Joby alleged that Archer recruited one of its employees who brought sensitive company information including business plans, partnership details, and aircraft designs to the competing firm. The case was later transferred to federal court in December.
Joby’s legal representative Alex Spiro dismissed the countersuit claims. “Archer’s constant legal issues and flailing business operations have left it no choice but to resort to invented nonsensical theories,” Spiro stated. “We will see them in court.”
The countersuit further alleges that Joby received financial support and grants from Chinese authorities while maintaining what Archer describes as “a profound, undisclosed foreign dependency.” Archer contends that Joby has been “wrapping itself in the American flag” instead of being transparent about its Beijing connections, which allegedly provided unfair market advantages.
The timing of the countersuit coincides with a U.S. Department of Transportation announcement regarding eight new grant programs designed to accelerate air taxi and drone technology development. Both Archer and Joby are listed as participants in three of these programs.
These grant initiatives were originally announced by former President Trump as part of efforts to compete with China’s advancing drone and air mobility technologies.
Both companies are part of the rapidly growing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft industry, working to obtain certification and launch their flying vehicles to meet growing demand for faster, environmentally friendly urban transportation solutions.
Professional golfer Gary Woodland made a candid revelation on Monday about his ongoing battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, which developed after he underwent brain surgery two and a half years ago.
The surgical procedure in September 2023 successfully removed a lesion and stopped his seizures. While the 2019 U.S. Open winner returned to competitive golf in January 2024 and has maintained a regular playing schedule, he disclosed that his mental health struggles have continued behind the scenes.
“I can’t waste energy anymore hiding this, and I’m blessed with a lot of support out here on the Tour,” the 41-year-old golfer shared during a heartfelt conversation with Golf Channel. “Everyone’s just been amazing. Every week I come out and everyone’s so excited and happy that I’m back. I hear that every week — it’s so nice to see you past this, it’s so nice to see you 100% — and I appreciate that love and support. But inside, I feel like I’m dying, and I feel like I’m living a lie.”
Woodland described a particularly difficult moment during a tournament in Napa, California, last autumn to demonstrate the severity of his condition.
A tournament official walking behind him on the course triggered an episode for Woodland.
“I stepped aside, I pulled my caddie and said, ‘This stuff is hitting me, man. You can’t let anybody get behind me,’” Woodland recounted. “Next thing you know, I couldn’t remember what I was doing. My eyesight started to get blurry. And a hole later, I just said (to my caddie) … ‘I can’t handle it.’ And I start bawling in the middle of the fairway. It was my turn to hit, and I couldn’t hit.”
When his caddie suggested withdrawing from the round, Woodland chose to continue because he was playing alongside two U.S. Ryder Cup team members, as he was preparing to serve as an assistant captain for the team.
“I said, ‘No, man, I’m here for these guys. I want to fight through this,’” Woodland explained. “I went into every bathroom to cry the rest of the day. When I got done, I got in my car and got out of there.
“There are days when it’s tough — crying in the scoring trailer, running to my car just to hide it. I don’t want to live that way anymore.”
Speaking about his decision to discuss his mental health publicly, Woodland said, “I hope somebody that’s struggling sees me out here still fighting and battling and trying to live my dreams. I’ve talked to veterans, and one thing I’ve heard from multiple people is you can’t do this on your own, no matter how strong you think you are. …
“I want to help people, too. I realize now I’ve got to help myself first — and hopefully this is the first step in doing that.”
Woodland has secured four victories during his PGA Tour career, with his most recent triumph being his U.S. Open championship five and a half years ago. His 2024 season included just one top-10 result — a second-place finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open — and he concluded the year ranked 72nd in the FedEx Cup standings.
Municipal candidates across France are making data center opposition a central campaign issue as the country prepares for local elections on March 15 and 22.
In Le Bourget, a suburb outside Paris, mayoral candidate Sofiane Milous is promising to block a proposed data center that he argues will increase local temperatures, add noise pollution, and provide minimal employment opportunities for residents.
The former judo champion, campaigning on an environmental platform, criticized the push for artificial intelligence infrastructure as inadequate compensation for the industrial jobs his working-class community lost when manufacturer Alstom closed its facility thirty years ago.
“We lost an industry that gave us a livelihood, even if it polluted, and now we face this new ‘industry 4.0’ that doesn’t create jobs for residents,” Milous stated.
While President Emmanuel Macron has promoted data centers as essential for France’s technological sovereignty and announced plans for 109 billion euros in private investment, community opposition continues mounting due to electrical grid concerns, environmental issues, and American technology companies’ market dominance.
Reuters identified candidates in at least ten municipalities, including major cities like Marseille and Bordeaux, who are either opposing new data facilities or demanding construction pauses and increased public disclosure.
The municipal races will determine control of more than 35,000 local government seats and serve as an indicator of far-right political strength before the 2027 presidential election.
This resistance movement parallels similar trends throughout Europe and America, where rapid data center expansion has created political controversy over energy consumption and technology companies’ community impact.
Ireland exemplifies these tensions, with data centers consuming 22 percent of the nation’s electricity supply. Opposition parties have criticized the government’s decision to end a four-year connection moratorium. Near London, activists are legally challenging a massive data center project, arguing developers failed to properly assess climate consequences.
France is addressing speculative land purchases for inactive projects, following Britain’s similar regulatory actions last year amid increased grid connection requests.
Chris Adams from the Green Web Foundation noted that critics include environmentalists, academics, property owners, and labor organizations.
“It’s an unregulated industry that is now upsetting people across the political spectrum,” Adams explained.
France is marketing its nuclear energy as an affordable, clean power source to compete with Britain and Germany for data center investment.
Regional authorities approved the Le Bourget project in January, requiring developer Segro Bourget to complete additional environmental and noise studies plus conduct public meetings. The company declined to comment.
Current right-wing mayor Jean-Baptiste Borsali has expressed confidence in the government’s evaluation and suggested the facility could benefit half the town’s population through waste heat recovery systems. He did not respond to interview requests.
Local residents at Le Bourget’s weekend market indicated the data center proposal would influence their voting decisions.
“I signed the petition — it’s right next to schools. I want a park for my children; we have no green space,” said Veronique Pernolet, a 28-year-old teacher living near the former retail warehouse site designated for the facility.
In Marseille, where underwater cables have established the port as a data center hub, left-wing candidate Sebastien Barles advocates for a construction moratorium.
“We have significant electricity needs — powering ships at dock, ship-repair facilities — and these data centres consume a large share of available power,” said Barles, representing the France Unbowed party.
In Wissous, south of Paris, municipal candidate Philippe de Fruyt is pursuing legal action scheduled for next week to prevent expansion of an existing Amazon data center. Amazon provided no comment.
According to climate research organization Ember, connecting new data centers in major European markets typically requires seven to ten years, though French grid access remains less restricted than neighboring countries.
Proposed legislation would designate data centers as “projects of national interest,” reducing legal and environmental obstacles while allowing federal authorities to override local decisions. The bill remains stalled in France’s parliament.
Academic experts and politicians argue these measures would diminish public participation in decision-making.
“We’ve seen what happened in the U.S., where so many data centres were built that serious opposition emerged,” said Anthony Devillet from The Cloud Is Under Our Feet advocacy organization. “With the rise of AI, I think the debate will become omnipresent here.”
A Dense Fog Advisory is now in effect for much of the Delmarva Peninsula, with visibility dropping to just one quarter mile or less beginning at midnight tonight.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory at 7:33 PM, warning that hazardous driving conditions will persist through 10:00 AM Tuesday morning. The thick fog will blanket Kent and Inland Sussex Counties in Delaware, Talbot County in Maryland, and portions of southern New Jersey including Western Monmouth, Atlantic, Cumberland, Ocean, and Southeastern Burlington Counties.
Commuters should expect significant travel delays during the Tuesday morning rush hour as the dense fog creates dangerous conditions on area roadways. Visibility could be severely restricted, making it difficult to see other vehicles, traffic signals, and road signs.
If you must drive during the advisory period, the National Weather Service strongly recommends slowing down, using your headlights, and maintaining extra distance between vehicles. Allow additional travel time and consider delaying non-essential trips until conditions improve.
The fog is expected to gradually lift and dissipate by late Tuesday morning. Motorists should monitor local conditions and stay tuned to TV Delmarva for updates throughout the night and morning hours.
LOS ANGELES — Sometimes it’s better to keep your mouth shut on the basketball court, as Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis learned the hard way Thursday night against Luka Doncic.
The Dallas Mavericks superstar erupted for 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists after Buzelis engaged him in some unwelcome verbal exchanges during their 142-130 victory over the Bulls.
“It always feels special,” Doncic commented following his eighth career 50-point performance. “I obviously haven’t had a 50-point game in a year, so it was very special. I mean, in the second quarter, I kind of felt it. You know, somebody started talking to me, so that woke me up.”
The NBA’s current scoring champion refused to reveal exactly what Buzelis said to him, explaining, “I would say that I would definitely get a tech.”
When reporters asked Buzelis if he gained any wisdom from his verbal sparring with Doncic, the second-year player responded simply: “Probably not to talk to him.”
Doncic was already performing at a high level before the trash talk began, dropping 12 points in the opening quarter. However, after Buzelis decided to engage verbally in the second period, Doncic responded by hitting 5 of 6 shots for another 12 points in that frame.
The Slovenian star continued his dominance with 17 third-quarter points before adding 10 more in the final period on just four field goal attempts. His final shooting line showed 17 of 31 from the floor, including an impressive 9 of 14 from beyond the arc and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line.
Mavericks head coach JJ Redick praised Doncic’s ability to transform opponent hostility into personal motivation as a “unique trait.”
“It’s not just the fact that he response to a rough play or trash talking, it’s that he can channel it, and he can channel it while still doing all the other things that needs to be done,” Redick explained. “That’s obviously reflective of, you know, his defensive rebounding, his assists, his steals. Again, another game where he gets a high assist number with low turnovers.”
Buzelis chose particularly poor timing for his verbal challenge, as Doncic had been averaging 39.5 points during Dallas’s previous three victories while LeBron James was sidelined with a right hip contusion and left foot arthritis. This hot streak included a 44-point explosion against Indiana just days earlier.
With this latest scoring outburst, Doncic now has 13 games of 40 or more points in 82 regular-season appearances for the Mavericks, placing him ninth in franchise history. Eleven of those performances have occurred this season alone.
Military officials report that a KC-135 Stratotanker went down in western Iraq while conducting refueling operations in support of the ongoing conflict with Iran, prompting immediate rescue efforts.
According to U.S. Central Command, which manages Middle Eastern operations, the incident occurred in friendly territory and involved a pair of aircraft. The second plane successfully made it to safety and touched down without incident.
This marks the fourth confirmed U.S. military aircraft loss during the current Iranian conflict.
The KC-135 Stratotanker serves as the Air Force’s primary aerial refueling platform, enabling fighter jets and bombers to extend their range and mission duration without returning to base. These versatile aircraft also handle medical evacuations for injured personnel and conduct reconnaissance operations when needed.
Built on the same framework as the Boeing 707 commercial airliner, these tankers have served American and allied forces for over six decades. The Air Force plans to eventually replace the aging fleet with newer KC-46A Pegasus aircraft, though this transition has moved slower than originally anticipated.
The advanced age of these aircraft has raised questions about their continued reliability and structural integrity.
“The last of these planes were produced in the 1960s,” said Yang Uk, a security expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. He added that the transition to the KC-46A has progressed more slowly than expected.
Congressional Research Service data shows the Air Force operated 376 KC-135s last year, with 151 serving in active duty units, 163 assigned to Air National Guard squadrons, and 62 supporting Air Force Reserve operations.
Standard crew composition includes three personnel: a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. Medical staff join the crew during evacuation missions.
Fuel transfer operations occur at the aircraft’s rear section, where the boom operator manages a retractable fuel line that connects to receiving aircraft. Many operators perform this task while lying prone and observing through a window positioned on the plane’s underside.
Certain KC-135 variants can also dispense fuel through wing-mounted pods. These aircraft feature cargo space above fuel storage areas for transporting supplies or personnel when required.
Military analysts suggest refueling aircraft may become increasingly vital if the Iranian conflict continues, as American warplanes could face longer missions pursuing retreating enemy forces further inland, Yang noted.
Casualty information remains unavailable following the Iraq incident. An anonymous U.S. official told The Associated Press that the aircraft carried no fewer than five crew members.
A separate official, also speaking anonymously, confirmed the second aircraft involved was another KC-135. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter posted on X that this plane landed safely in Israel.
U.S. Central Command has not provided details about the crash circumstances, but stated it “was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
Yang observed that enemy forces rarely target refueling tankers since these operations typically occur well behind front-line combat areas.
This incident follows last week’s friendly fire tragedy when three U.S. F-15E fighters were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti forces.
Several deadly KC-135 accidents have occurred throughout the aircraft’s service history. The most recent fatal crash happened May 3, 2013, when a KC-135R went down after departing an airfield south of Chaldovar, Kyrgyzstan during Afghanistan war operations.
Air Force investigators determined that crew members battled rudder control problems during the 2013 incident. As they attempted to regain aircraft control, the tail section separated and the plane exploded in flight, killing all three crew members.
The aircraft’s most catastrophic midair collision occurred in 1966 when a nuclear-armed B-52 bomber collided with a tanker near Palomares, Spain.
That accident destroyed the tanker and killed four personnel aboard. The disaster triggered a massive cleanup operation to remove nuclear contamination after conventional explosives in the hydrogen bombs detonated upon ground impact.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A jury in Sydney has found a business consultant guilty of violating Australia’s foreign interference statutes after he supplied intelligence reports to two individuals who were likely Chinese operatives.
Alexander Csergo, 59, becomes just the second individual convicted under Australia’s anti-espionage and covert interference legislation that was enacted in 2018, drawing criticism from China at the time.
The New South Wales District Court jury determined that Csergo should have realized that two contacts he knew simply as Ken and Evelyn were operatives for China’s ministry of state security.
Following his conviction on reckless foreign interference charges, Csergo was granted bail through the weekend and must appear in court Monday, when prosecutors will seek his detention. The conviction carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
Defense attorneys contended that Csergo relied on publicly available information for his research work. They noted he fabricated stories to the suspected operatives, including false claims about conducting interviews with prominent figures such as Kevin Rudd, Australia’s former prime minister who now serves as the nation’s U.S. ambassador.
While working as a communications and technology consultant in Shanghai during 2021, Csergo was contacted via LinkedIn by someone calling herself Evelyn, who claimed to represent a Chinese research organization.
In exchange for payment, he delivered handwritten intelligence assessments to both Evelyn and Ken covering defense matters, security issues, political developments and mining operations. His reports included information about the AUKUS defense agreement, under which Britain is assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines using American technology.
Citizens of Kazakhstan head to the polls this Sunday to decide on constitutional amendments that opposition voices claim might enable President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to extend his leadership of Central Asia’s biggest economy past his scheduled 2029 departure.
The 72-year-old president, a seasoned diplomat who has successfully balanced relationships with Russia, the United States, and China, has described the referendum as “a truly historic moment” that will shift Kazakhstan—a major energy and mining nation—from what he calls a “super-presidential” structure toward better separation of governmental powers.
However, political observers argue the proposed amendments still concentrate excessive authority in the presidency.
Political analyst Dosym Satpayev explained that the draft “[s]ignificantly increases the powers of the head of state and does not create a system of checks and balances.”
The constitutional changes would combine parliament’s dual chambers into a single body and bring back the vice-president role, eliminated in 1996, with the president selecting this position.
Under current rules, Kazakh presidents serve one seven-year term—a restriction Tokayev implemented in 2022.
While Tokayev has stated he plans to leave office in 2029, some political watchers suggest a new constitution might reset his term limitations, mirroring strategies employed by other former Soviet leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Addressing widespread speculation in Kazakhstan about Tokayev potentially pursuing the UN secretary-general position this year, Satpayev noted the vice-presidency would enable Tokayev to choose his replacement before departing early.
A diplomatic source from Kazakhstan informed Reuters that Tokayev, who led the UN’s Geneva operations from 2011-2013, is weighing both a secretary-general bid and a potential second presidential campaign.
Tokayev has publicly denied interest in returning to the United Nations.
Government-sanctioned polling organizations report strong public support for the constitutional amendments, with limited visible opposition.
This vote occurs during challenging times for Kazakhstan, whose economy remains tightly connected to Russia’s and has experienced negative effects from the Ukraine conflict.
While economic expansion has picked up pace, inflation has also risen, reaching 11.7% in February, with interest rates climbing to a historic 18%. New tax increases have added to public frustration.
At an Almaty marketplace, horsemeat vendor Asya Tuligenova—selling the traditional Kazakh specialty—explained that merchants are absorbing increased expenses rather than burdening customers.
“We’re kind of afraid. If we raise prices, it will be difficult for our regular customers,” she said.
Tuligenova declined to reveal her voting intentions for Sunday.
The Ole Miss Rebels continued their improbable SEC Tournament run Thursday night, stunning seventh-seeded Georgia 76-72 in Nashville behind strong performances from A.J. Storr’s 19 points and Malik Dia’s 17-point contribution.
The 15th-seeded Rebels (14-19) appeared to have the game well in hand, building a commanding 55-32 advantage with 13 minutes left on the clock. However, Travis Perry contributed 16 points with four three-pointers, while Ilias Kamardine chipped in eight points, four assists, and four steals as Ole Miss watched their comfortable margin nearly evaporate.
Georgia mounted a furious comeback using aggressive full-court pressure, orchestrating a devastating 22-2 scoring surge that brought them within 57-54 with 7:35 remaining. The Bulldogs continued their charge when Kanon Catchings converted a layup to cut the deficit to just 60-58, but that would be as close as they would get.
The defeat ends a strong stretch for Georgia (22-10), which had captured three consecutive victories and five of their last six contests. The Bulldogs are still expected to receive an NCAA Tournament invitation despite the setback.
This marked the second straight tournament game where Ole Miss controlled from start to finish, following their 76-66 opening-round triumph over Texas. The Rebels had endured a disastrous regular season finale, dropping 12 of their final 13 games. They now advance to face second-seeded Alabama, ranked 15th nationally, in Friday’s quarterfinal round.
In other SEC Tournament action, Oklahoma dominated Texas A&M 83-63 as Nijel Pack tallied 20 points with four three-pointers before exiting due to injury. The 11th-seeded Sooners (19-14) overwhelmed the sixth-seeded Aggies with contributions from Xzayvier Brown (16 points, six rebounds), Derrion Reid (15 points, 10 rebounds), and Tae Davis (14 points). Oklahoma built a 22-point halftime cushion to secure their sixth straight victory and will meet third-seeded Arkansas Friday.
Kentucky survived Missouri 78-72 as Otega Oweh’s 21 points and clutch plays at both ends lifted the ninth-seeded Wildcats past the eighth-seeded Tigers. Denzel Aberdeen added 16 points and seven assists while Collin Chandler contributed 15 points and three steals for Kentucky (21-12). Missouri’s Mark Mitchell exploded for 32 points and seven rebounds, including 23 second-half points that helped the Tigers briefly erase a 16-point deficit.
No. 25 Tennessee defeated Auburn 72-62 behind Nate Ament’s outstanding all-around performance of 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in his return from a leg injury. The fifth-seeded Volunteers (22-10) used a decisive 20-0 run late in the game to pull away from the Tigers. Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 15 points and three steals for Tennessee, which will face fourth-seeded Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals. Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford scored 28 points but committed five turnovers for the 12th-seeded Tigers (17-16).
Led by Brayden Burries’ 21-point performance, top-seeded Arizona dominated throughout their 81-59 quarterfinal victory over eighth-seeded UCF on Thursday in Kansas City, securing their spot in the Big 12 tournament semifinals.
The Wildcats (30-2) controlled the game from the opening tip, never allowing UCF to take the lead. Tobe Awaka contributed a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Koa Peat also added 12 points. Ivan Kharchenkov chipped in 10 points for Arizona.
UCF (21-11) was paced by Themus Fulks’ 14 points, with Jordan Burks and Chris Johnson each contributing 10 points. Despite the loss, the Knights are anticipated to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona will meet fifth-seeded Iowa State in Friday evening’s opening semifinal matchup.
No. 5 Houston 73, BYU 66
Kingston Flemings paced four Houston players in double digits as the Cougars separated from BYU in their quarterfinal contest.
Emanuel Sharp contributed 13 points, Joseph Tugler recorded 12 points with a team-leading eight boards, and Chris Cenac Jr. scored 10 points while shooting 5-of-6 from the field for second-seeded Houston (27-5). The victory marked the Cougars’ fourth consecutive win and their third Big 12 semifinal appearance in three seasons in the conference.
Freshman standout AJ Dybantsa posted a game-high 26 points, extending his streak to 13 consecutive games with at least 20 points, while Robert Wright III added 15 points and a game-best five assists for 10th-seeded BYU (23-11).
No. 7 Iowa State 75, No. 16 Texas Tech 53
Tamin Lipsey’s 20-point effort powered the fifth-seeded Cyclones past the fourth-seeded Red Raiders in dominant fashion.
Joshua Jefferson posted 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as Iowa State erased an early 12-point disadvantage in the quarterfinal battle. Dominykas Pleta provided 11 points from the bench as the Cyclones (27-6) delivered their second impressive showing in consecutive days.
LeJuan Watts recorded 12 points and seven rebounds while Christian Anderson added 10 points for Texas Tech (22-10). The Red Raiders have gone 3-3 following the season-ending ACL injury to key player J.T. Toppin.
No. 14 Kansas 78, TCU 73
Darryn Peterson netted 16 of his 24 points in the second half, lifting the Jayhawks to a gritty victory over the Horned Frogs.
Despite shooting just 5-for-17 from the field, Peterson compensated by connecting on 13 of 16 free throw attempts during 37 minutes of play. He also grabbed eight rebounds and recorded three steals for third-seeded Kansas (23-9), which will battle second-seeded and fifth-ranked Houston in Friday’s late semifinal.
David Punch topped sixth-seeded TCU (22-11) with 24 points, including 18 in the final half, plus 10 rebounds. Liutauras Lelevicius scored 14 points and Jayden Pierre contributed 11 points with a team-high three three-pointers for the Horned Frogs, whose six-game victory streak came to an end.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made NBA history Thursday night, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary streak while powering his team to a nail-biting 104-102 victory against the Boston Celtics at home.
The reigning league MVP extended his remarkable run to 127 straight games with at least 20 points, eclipsing Chamberlain’s 63-year-old NBA milestone. Gilgeous-Alexander finished the night with 35 points in the historic performance.
Boston entered the contest without key players, as Jayson Tatum was held out for injury management following his recent return from a 10-month layoff due to an Achilles injury. Derrick White also remained sidelined with a right knee injury.
Despite the absences, Jaylen Brown kept the Celtics competitive throughout the evening, contributing 34 points along with seven assists and six rebounds in the losing effort.
The game’s final moments delivered high drama as both superstars traded crucial baskets. Gilgeous-Alexander put Oklahoma City ahead with a clutch pull-up jumper with 29.6 seconds on the clock, only to see Brown answer back with a turnaround fadeaway that knotted the score at 102-102.
After Gilgeous-Alexander’s pass to Alex Caruso resulted in a missed corner three-pointer, Thunder center Chet Holmgren secured the offensive rebound and drew a foul from Sam Hauser while attempting the putback.
Holmgren calmly sank both free throws with just 0.8 seconds remaining, sealing the victory when Payton Pritchard’s desperation three-point attempt fell short at the final buzzer.
The Thunder’s star guard dominated the fourth quarter with 14 points and completed his historic night with nine assists, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
Oklahoma City stretched their current winning streak to seven games, while Boston suffered their second consecutive loss following a strong 5-1 run.
The record-breaking moment came midway through the third quarter when Gilgeous-Alexander entered halftime with 17 points. After converting two free throws to move within one point of the milestone, he made history on the Thunder’s following possession with a 20-foot jumper over defender Baylor Scheierman, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Julius Halaifonua achieved his first career double-double with 21 points and a personal-best 10 rebounds, leading 11th-seeded Georgetown to a commanding 78-64 upset victory over third-seeded Villanova in Thursday’s Big East tournament quarterfinal round.
The Hoyas (16-17) secured their first semifinal berth since their unexpected championship run in 2021 as an eighth seed. Georgetown’s next challenge will be second-seeded and sixth-ranked UConn, which dominated Xavier 93-68 earlier Thursday.
Contributing to Georgetown’s success, Jeremiah Williams finished with 14 points while Kayvaun Mulready also added 14, including a crucial eight consecutive points that helped the Hoyas build a commanding double-digit advantage in the second half. Malik Mack contributed 12 points despite struggling with 4-of-15 shooting, though he delivered a clutch three-pointer with 76 seconds remaining in the opening half to tie the game.
The Wildcats (24-8) saw their hopes of reaching the semifinals end, marking their continued absence from that stage since capturing the 2022 championship during Jay Wright’s farewell season. Duke Brennan paced Villanova with 14 points and six rebounds, while Tyler Perkins contributed 13 points and Bryce Lindsay added 11. However, promising freshman Acaden Lewis and reserve Devin Askew struggled significantly, combining for just 12 points on poor 5-of-21 shooting.
UConn 93, Xavier 68
Solo Ball’s 19-point performance powered the second-seeded Huskies to a dominant start-to-finish victory over 10th-seeded Xavier in the quarterfinals.
The Huskies (28-4) maintained double-digit leads for the game’s final 28 minutes and 35 seconds, extending their semifinal streak to six consecutive years since returning to the Big East in 2020-21. Tarris Reed contributed significantly with 17 points and a season-high 14 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the campaign.
Xavier’s Filip Borovicanin posted a career-best 22 points, but the Musketeers have now lost all three matchups against UConn this season by a total margin of 80 points. Roddie Anderson III added 15 points, while Tre Carroll endured a difficult outing, managing just 12 points on 2-of-10 shooting.
St. John’s 85, Providence 72
Zuby Ejiofor delivered 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as 13th-ranked St. John’s cruised past Providence in quarterfinal action.
The Big East Player of the Year honoree shot efficiently at 9-of-14 from the field and contributed three blocks, while three Red Storm teammates each scored 14 points: Oziyah Sellers, Bryce Hopkins and Ian Jackson. Top-seeded St. John’s (26-6) advances to face Seton Hall in Friday’s semifinals.
The Red Storm controlled the boards decisively, out-rebounding ninth-seeded Providence 51-30, including a dominant 18-4 advantage on offensive rebounds. Hopkins, a former Providence player, grabbed 13 total rebounds with six coming on the offensive end.
Seton Hall 72, Creighton 61
Adam “Budd” Clark posted 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Jacob Dar delivered a spectacular second-half performance to propel fourth-seeded Seton Hall past fifth-seeded Creighton.
After not seeing action in the first half, Dar erupted for a season-high 16 points and five rebounds in just 15 second-half minutes, helping the Pirates (21-11) maintain their slim NCAA Tournament aspirations.
Creighton (15-17) dropped below .500 for the first time since the 2014-15 season and will miss March Madness for the first time since 2019. Josh Dix topped all scorers with 22 points, Nik Graves added 15 points and five assists, and Austin Swartz chipped in 10 points for the Bluejays.
The National Weather Service has issued a Dense Fog Advisory for Delaware’s coastal areas and much of South Jersey, warning drivers of potentially dangerous conditions through Tuesday morning.
Visibility has dropped to just one-quarter to one-half mile in dense fog across Delaware Beaches, along with Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean counties in New Jersey. The advisory remains in effect until 10 AM Tuesday.
Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution during the morning commute, as the thick fog creates hazardous driving conditions throughout the region. “Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” warns the National Weather Service.
If you must travel, officials recommend slowing down, using your headlights, and maintaining plenty of distance between vehicles. Consider delaying non-essential travel until conditions improve.
The fog is expected to gradually lift as temperatures rise Tuesday morning. Weather officials will continue monitoring conditions and will cancel the advisory once visibility improves to safe levels.
For the latest weather updates and traffic conditions, stay tuned to TV Delmarva and check our website and mobile app.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect for coastal areas of the Delmarva Peninsula through 10 AM Tuesday morning, creating hazardous driving conditions with visibility reduced to just one-quarter to one-half mile.
The National Weather Service advisory affects Delaware’s coastal beaches and several New Jersey counties, including Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean areas.
Drivers in the affected regions should exercise extreme caution during the morning commute. The thick fog has already begun settling across the coastline and is expected to persist overnight into early Tuesday.
“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” warns the National Weather Service. Officials urge motorists to slow down significantly, use headlights even during daylight hours, and maintain extra distance between vehicles.
The fog advisory, issued at 7:33 PM Monday evening, is expected to lift by mid-morning Tuesday as temperatures rise and winds increase.
Residents planning early morning travel should allow extra time for their commute and consider delaying non-essential trips until visibility improves. Coastal areas are particularly susceptible to these dense fog conditions during this time of year due to temperature differences between land and ocean waters.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continued weather updates throughout your Tuesday morning.
Officials across North Carolina are expressing optimism that a change in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security could unlock disaster recovery funds that have been stuck in bureaucratic limbo.
The FEMA assistance had been stalled during Kristi Noem’s time overseeing the department, leaving communities waiting for critical recovery resources. State leaders believe the transition to new leadership could break the logjam and allow the federal aid to flow to areas that need it.
The delayed funding represents a significant concern for North Carolina communities still working to recover from previous disasters and prepare for future emergencies.
Drivers across the Delmarva Peninsula should prepare for hazardous travel conditions as a Dense Fog Advisory takes effect at midnight tonight and continues through 10 AM Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued the advisory for several areas in our region, including Kent and Inland Sussex Counties in Delaware, Talbot County in Maryland, and parts of southern New Jersey including Western Monmouth, Atlantic, Cumberland, Ocean, and Southeastern Burlington Counties.
Visibility could drop to just one quarter mile or less in the dense fog, creating dangerous driving conditions during the overnight hours and Tuesday morning commute.
“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” warns the National Weather Service.
If you must travel during the advisory period, meteorologists strongly recommend slowing down, using your headlights, and leaving plenty of distance between your vehicle and others on the road.
Commuters should plan for extra travel time Tuesday morning as the fog is expected to linger until around 10 AM. The advisory will remain in effect until the fog lifts and visibility improves.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing weather updates and check road conditions before heading out tomorrow morning.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks basketball team watched their season conclude in disappointing fashion after falling to North Carolina Central in an overtime battle during the MEAC Tournament.
The Hawks fought hard but ultimately could not overcome their opponents in the extra period, bringing an end to their postseason aspirations and marking the final game of their campaign.
The overtime loss represents a tough finish for the Hawks, who had hopes of making a deeper run in the tournament before their season was cut short by the defeat.
Residents of Scotland, Connecticut face a unique postal predicament that turns something as simple as getting mail into a daily challenge. This small community operates under six separate zip codes, creating ongoing headaches for anyone trying to receive deliveries or correspondence.
The unusual situation means that neighbors living just streets apart may have completely different zip codes, leading to frequent mail mix-ups and delivery delays. For residents of this compact town, what should be a straightforward process has become a source of regular frustration.
A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for Delaware’s coastal communities and parts of South Jersey until 10 AM Tuesday morning, creating hazardous driving conditions with visibility dropping to just one-quarter to one-half mile.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory at 7:33 PM Monday, warning residents in Delaware Beaches, along with Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean counties in New Jersey to exercise extreme caution on the roads.
The thick fog is expected to persist overnight and into the early morning hours, making Tuesday’s commute particularly treacherous for drivers along coastal routes and bridges.
Motorists are urged to slow down significantly, use low-beam headlights, and maintain extra following distance. Avoid using high beams, which can reflect off the fog and actually reduce visibility further.
The advisory remains in effect until 10 AM Tuesday, though conditions may improve gradually as morning temperatures rise and winds increase. Drivers should allow extra time for their commute and consider delaying non-essential travel until visibility improves.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing weather updates throughout your Tuesday morning.
Federal authorities have taken two individuals into custody on charges of attempting to provide material support to the terrorist organization ISIS, according to law enforcement officials.
The arrests stem from an alleged plot involving explosive devices that were intended to target areas near the official residence of New York City’s mayor. The scheme was reportedly thwarted before any attacks could be carried out.
The suspects are accused of planning the bombing attacks as part of their alleged support for the Islamic State terrorist group. Details about how authorities discovered and prevented the plot have not been released.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about ISIS-inspired domestic terrorism threats across the United States. Federal prosecutors are handling the charges against both defendants.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect for Delaware beaches and parts of southern New Jersey until 10 AM Tuesday morning, creating potentially dangerous driving conditions across the region.
The National Weather Service reports visibility has dropped to just one-quarter to one-half mile in dense fog, significantly impacting travel safety along coastal areas. The advisory affects Delaware’s beach communities, along with Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean counties in New Jersey.
Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution during the Tuesday morning commute, as the thick fog is expected to persist through the early morning hours before lifting around 10 AM.
If you must drive, weather officials strongly recommend slowing down, using your headlights even during daylight hours, and maintaining extra distance between vehicles. Consider delaying non-essential travel until visibility improves.
The fog advisory was issued Sunday evening and will remain active until mid-morning Tuesday. Commuters should allow extra time for travel and stay updated on current conditions. For the latest weather updates and traffic information, stay with TV Delmarva throughout the morning.
A Dense Fog Advisory is now in effect for much of the Delmarva Peninsula, with visibility dropping to just one quarter mile or less beginning at midnight tonight through 10 AM Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory at 7:33 PM, warning that hazardous driving conditions are expected across Kent and Inland Sussex counties in Delaware, Talbot County in Maryland, and portions of southern New Jersey including Western Monmouth, Atlantic, Cumberland, Ocean, and Southeastern Burlington counties.
Motorists should expect significantly reduced visibility during the overnight hours and Tuesday morning commute. The dense fog could make travel treacherous, particularly on rural roads and highways throughout the region.
If you must drive during the advisory period, weather officials urge extreme caution. Reduce your speed considerably, turn on your headlights, and maintain extra distance between your vehicle and others on the road. Consider delaying non-essential travel until conditions improve.
The fog is expected to gradually lift Tuesday morning, with the advisory set to expire at 10 AM. Commuters should allow extra time for their morning drive and stay alert for changing visibility conditions.
We’ll continue monitoring this situation and provide updates as conditions change throughout the overnight hours.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect for Delaware’s beaches and several South Jersey coastal counties through 10 AM Tuesday morning, creating potentially hazardous driving conditions with visibility dropping to just a quarter to half mile.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory Monday evening for Delaware Beaches, along with Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean counties in New Jersey.
The thick fog is significantly reducing visibility across the coastal areas, making travel dangerous for morning commuters and anyone venturing out tonight. Drivers should expect challenging conditions on major routes including coastal highways and bridge crossings.
Weather officials are urging extreme caution for anyone who must travel during the advisory period. If you must drive, reduce your speed significantly, turn on your headlights, and maintain extra distance between vehicles. Avoid using high beams, which can actually reduce visibility in fog.
The fog advisory is expected to lift by mid-morning Tuesday as temperatures warm and atmospheric conditions improve. Commuters should plan for extra travel time and consider delaying non-essential trips until visibility improves.
Stay with TV Delmarva for the latest weather updates and traffic conditions throughout the advisory period.
Drivers across the Delmarva Peninsula should prepare for hazardous travel conditions as dense fog is expected to blanket the region from midnight tonight through 10 AM Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service has issued a Dense Fog Advisory for multiple areas including Kent and Inland Sussex counties in Delaware, and Talbot County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The advisory also covers parts of southern New Jersey, including Western Monmouth, Atlantic, Cumberland, Ocean, and Southeastern Burlington counties.
Visibility could drop to just one quarter mile or less, creating dangerous driving conditions for the Tuesday morning commute.
“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” warns the National Weather Service.
Drivers are urged to take extra precautions if they must travel during the advisory period. Officials recommend slowing down, using headlights, and maintaining extra distance between vehicles.
The dense fog is expected to lift by 10 AM Tuesday as temperatures warm and atmospheric conditions change.
Commuters should allow extra time for their Tuesday morning travels and consider delaying non-essential trips until visibility improves. Stay with TV Delmarva for continued weather updates throughout the night and morning hours.
The European Union’s foreign policy leader has accused the United States of intentionally working to fracture European unity, according to remarks published in a Financial Times interview on Friday. The comments from Kaja Kallas come after more than a year of strained relationships across the Atlantic.
“What I think is actually important for everybody to understand is that the U.S. has been very clear that they want to divide Europe. They don’t like the European Union,” Kallas stated during her conversation with the Financial Times.
President Donald Trump has consistently criticized the European Union throughout his current presidency, implementing trade penalties against EU member nations and discussing the potential acquisition of Greenland – a proposal that could potentially dissolve the NATO partnership.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration initiated trade reviews targeting the EU along with several other nations including China, India, Japan, South Korea and Mexico, citing allegedly unfair commercial practices. These investigations could result in additional trade penalties by summer, following the Supreme Court’s decision last month to dismantle significant portions of Trump’s previous tariff framework.
According to the Financial Times, Kallas noted that America’s strategy toward the EU mirrors methods employed by the bloc’s opponents.
She urged EU member states to avoid individual negotiations with Trump, emphasizing instead that they should engage with him collectively, “because we are equal powers when we are together,” as reported by the Financial Times.
Regarding military matters, however, Kallas acknowledged the bloc must “to buy from America because we don’t have the assets or the possibilities or the capabilities that we need,” while emphasizing that Europe should strengthen investment in its own defense manufacturing sector.
BERLIN (AP) — In Germany’s capital city, a social media personality organized a welcoming Ramadan dinner that brought together individuals from various backgrounds to champion unity and understanding among different communities.
Ali Darwich, a 33-year-old German citizen with Palestinian and Lebanese heritage who shares content on Instagram and TikTok under the handle @alifragt, brought together a diverse group including Muslims and Christians, LGBTQ+ individuals and straight allies, as well as native Germans and immigrants for the special meal.
“No one can be ‘too queer’ to belong,” Darwich stated, emphasizing his message of inclusion that bridges religious faith and sexual identity.
The event represents part of a curated photo collection assembled by Associated Press photo editors.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Following fresh assaults by Iran on Friday morning targeting Gulf Arab nations, including a barrage of dozens of drones aimed at Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump issued severe threats of retaliation after Iran’s new supreme leader warned about American military presence in the region.
“Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today,” Trump posted on social media. “Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth.”
Trump’s remarks followed statements from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who pledged Thursday to “not refrain from avenging the blood” of Iranian casualties and urged Gulf Arab countries to close American military installations, calling U.S. protection promises “nothing more than a lie.”
Heavy bombardments struck areas around Tehran and surrounding regions early Friday morning, though immediate details about specific targets remained unclear.
Brent crude oil prices continued hovering above $100 per barrel as Iran maintained its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical passage where one-fifth of global oil shipments travel from the Persian Gulf to international waters.
Oil costs have surged as high as approximately $120 per barrel, representing a 40% increase since the United States and Israel launched their initial assault on Iran on February 28, marking the conflict’s beginning.
Iranian forces have been targeting vessels attempting passage through the strait, with Khamenei’s statements — his first public address since assuming leadership after his father’s death on the war’s opening day — confirming Iran’s intention to maintain the waterway closure.
Recovery operations continued in Iraq following the crash of an American KC-135 refueling aircraft, U.S. Central Command confirmed. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Friday that a French soldier stationed in northern Iraq was killed in an attack.
Iran’s campaign against oil facilities and other infrastructure throughout the Gulf region continued Friday, with Saudi Arabia reporting the destruction of nearly 50 drones launched in successive waves during early morning hours.
Warning sirens activated in Bahrain as incoming fire approached from Dubai, while black smoke rose from an industrial zone after officials said intercepted debris ignited fires.
Approximately 60 individuals sustained injuries in northern Israel after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching multiple rocket attacks toward the region and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Medical officials characterized most injuries as minor.
Lebanese Health Ministry reports confirmed one fatality in southwestern Beirut from an Israeli strike, while another attack set an apartment building ablaze in the capital. Israeli military officials stated they were targeting a Hezbollah member with Iranian connections.
Since fighting commenced, Lebanon’s Health Ministry has documented over 600 deaths, with the U.N. refugee agency reporting nearly 800,000 internally displaced persons.
Iranian officials report more than 1,300 casualties within their borders, while Israel has confirmed 12 deaths. American losses include at least seven soldiers killed and eight others with serious injuries.
In his Friday morning social media post, Trump declared that “we are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise.”
“They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them,” Trump stated. “What a great honor it is to do so!”
Military officials report American forces have conducted strikes against more than 6,000 targets since operations against Iran began, including over 30 mine-laying ships.
French President Macron confirmed Friday that a French soldier died in an attack on Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdish region. France previously reported six soldiers injured in an Erbil drone strike, where French troops serve in a multinational counterterrorism mission supporting Iraqi forces against Islamic State militants.
British authorities reported that several American personnel received minor injuries Wednesday when drone attacks hit an Erbil base housing both British and American forces.
Italy confirmed that its base in Erbil was also struck Wednesday, though no injuries occurred. The Italian presence trains local Kurdish forces at the Iraqi government’s request.
Recovery efforts for the crashed American KC-135 refueling plane in western Iraq continued Friday. Casualty information remained unclear, though the aircraft carried five crew members.
U.S. Central Command stated the crash was unrelated to enemy or friendly fire, noting two aircraft were involved with one landing safely.
The KC-135 represents the fourth publicly confirmed aircraft loss during U.S. military operations against Iran. Three American fighter jets were accidentally shot down by friendly Kuwaiti fire last week.
Swiss engineering giant ABB is launching an aggressive acquisition campaign and has the financial firepower to complete several major deals worth billions of dollars, according to Chairman Peter Voser in an exclusive interview with Reuters.
Speaking from ABB’s headquarters in Zurich, Voser revealed that the company, which carries a market valuation of $159 billion, is currently assessing potential purchases ranging up to hundreds of millions of dollars while remaining ready to pursue much larger opportunities.
“If you look at our balance sheet and the cash flow we produce every year, and the $5 billion coming in from the robotics divestment, we could also do more than one larger deal,” Voser explained during the March 13 interview.
This marks a significant strategic shift for ABB, which has spent recent years divesting assets, including last year’s robotics division sale to SoftBank, rather than making major acquisitions.
When asked about speculation that ABB had explored a potential bid for French electrical equipment manufacturer Legrand, valued at approximately $43 billion, Voser remained tight-lipped about specific targets.
“ABB has never done such a large deal but generally speaking I wouldn’t completely rule out a deal of that size in the future,” he stated, though he noted that transactions similar to the company’s record $4.2 billion Baldor motor manufacturer acquisition were more probable.
The engineering firm, which competes directly with industry leaders Siemens and Schneider Electric, has recently concentrated on improving profit margins while divesting operations outside its core focus areas of electrification products for data centers and automation systems.
Voser indicated that upcoming acquisitions would target the electrification, motion, and automation sectors, noting the company remains “constantly in negotiations” regarding smaller transactions while larger deals continue to be discussed at the highest corporate levels.
“We want to grow organically by 5-7% on average per year, but we have aspirations to grow more, and that will come through M&A,” he said, referencing sales targets.
Addressing geopolitical concerns, Voser, a former Shell CEO, warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict could potentially disrupt global energy markets and economic demand if it continues.
“The longer it lasts, the more the global economy will suffer — you will get energy shortages, prices will go up, and that should have a direct impact on demand,” he cautioned.
The chairman emphasized that even a quick resolution wouldn’t immediately restore normal operations, explaining that complex energy infrastructure requires significant time to restart.
“To restart a refinery is not a one-day show; it will take one or two months before the whole global energy supply system would be fully working again,” Voser noted.
Despite these concerns, the IBM board member expressed continued optimism about demand related to electrifying data centers supporting artificial intelligence operations, which has emerged as a key growth driver for the company.
However, he issued a warning about potential instability in the AI sector, suggesting that debt-financed AI companies lacking revenue streams may face challenges, particularly creating credit pressures in the United States.
The 67-year-old executive, who has served as ABB’s chairman since 2015, also hinted at upcoming board changes beginning next year, potentially paving the way for his own departure by 2028 when he reaches age 70.
“We’re planning to make some changes to the board and then obviously at some stage my time comes as well,” he concluded.
A major European semiconductor company has announced an innovative approach to modernizing its manufacturing operations by introducing humanoid robots while simultaneously retraining its workforce, rather than shutting down older facilities.
STMicroelectronics revealed its strategy during a semiconductor industry conference held Thursday in Sopot, Poland, organized by the trade group SEMI. Thomas Morgenstern, who oversees manufacturing operations for STMicro, demonstrated the company’s vision by showing footage of a robotic worker handling silicon wafer carriers.
“This is the first one we have,” Morgenstern explained. “In the next couple of years, we are talking about numbers beyond one hundred humanoids doing jobs in our facilities.”
The initiative comes as European semiconductor manufacturers like STMicro and competitor NXP confront intensifying competition from global rivals, especially Chinese companies operating state-of-the-art automated production facilities that deliver superior efficiency.
Legacy chip manufacturing facilities, commonly called “fabs” in the industry, need substantial capital investment to remain competitive, yet many cannot accommodate newer equipment. Demolishing and reconstructing these plants presents complex challenges including steep costs, regulatory obstacles, and labor union negotiations across Europe.
Current EU Chips Act subsidies typically support only cutting-edge “first-of-a-kind” initiatives, leaving older manufacturing sites without funding eligibility. However, industry organizations like SEMI are advocating for expanded investment in existing supply chains and established industrial capabilities through a potential Chips Act 2.0.
STMicroelectronics launched a major restructuring effort in October 2024 involving the planned reduction of 5,000 positions. While the company has made headway with this initiative in France, similar efforts have encountered obstacles in Italy, underscoring the operational challenges facing the semiconductor manufacturer.
According to Morgenstern, the humanoid robots will handle routine and physically intensive work, enabling human employees to transition into more specialized positions where the company faces staffing shortages. The organization has initiated comprehensive training programs to prepare workers for these evolving job requirements.
“If you have a three or four-shift system, one humanoid can replace three out of four shifts,” Morgenstern told Reuters. “We don’t want to close any facility in Europe … the goal is to increase efficiency.”
German automotive giant Volkswagen announced Friday that it has commenced manufacturing of its inaugural electric vehicle created through a collaboration with Chinese electric car manufacturer Xpeng, marking a significant step in the company’s ambitious plan to regain its footing in the Chinese market through the introduction of more than 20 new models throughout this year.
The electric SUV, called the ID. UNYX 08, represents Volkswagen’s most extensive electric vehicle initiative ever undertaken in China, a crucial market where the German manufacturer is working to match the competition from domestic brands like BYD and Geely.
This new vehicle, scheduled for retail availability during the first six months of this year, symbolizes Volkswagen’s refreshed approach in the globe’s largest automotive marketplace, emphasizing domestic development and accelerated production timelines.
The German automaker has stated that its China-focused platform enables 30% faster vehicle development cycles. The company reported completing the ID. UNYX 08 from concept to production within a 24-month timeframe.
“Our ‘in China, for China’ strategy is delivering results,” said Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen Group board member for China.
“With the ID. UNYX 08, we are launching the Group’s largest electric vehicle offensive in China.”
The continent’s biggest automaker confronts another challenging year, characterized by trade tariffs and its struggle to reclaim China, its most important individual market, where it has surrendered territory to domestic competitors who have moved more rapidly to introduce technology-rich, affordable electric vehicles.
Chinese manufacturer Geely Auto surpassed Volkswagen in Chinese sales during the previous year, pushing the German company to third position after ending its ten-year market leadership, which BYD claimed in 2024.
Counting the more than 20 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models planned for release by 2026, Volkswagen intends to introduce a combined total of 50 new electric vehicles in China before 2030.
The ID. UNYX 08 stems from a 2023 technological alliance with Xpeng, which supplies Volkswagen with self-driving technology and Turing AI processors incorporated into the new model.
A second collaboratively designed electric vehicle with Xpeng is planned for introduction later this year.
Production of both models will occur at Volkswagen’s Hefei manufacturing facility, located west of Shanghai, which maintains yearly production capability of 350,000 vehicles and currently manufactures the Cupra Tavascan SUV for European export markets.
Financial markets worldwide are grappling with mounting concerns over a prolonged Middle East conflict that could push oil prices to nearly $100 per barrel, triggering widespread selling in both bond and stock markets as investors worry about stagflation.
With leaders from Iran, Israel, and the United States maintaining firm stances as the conflict nears its two-week anniversary this Friday, market participants are preparing for continued instability by adopting defensive positions and purchasing U.S. dollars.
The diminishing possibility of a swift conflict resolution has dramatically altered expectations for global interest rates. Market participants have abandoned expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts this year, a stark contrast to February when two reductions were anticipated.
Regarding the European Central Bank, financial markets now fully expect a rate increase by July, with a 70% probability of another hike by December. This represents a complete reversal from February, when traders saw approximately a 40% likelihood of rate cuts before year’s end.
Given these changing rate projections, several central bank meetings scheduled for next week will draw significant market attention as officials have opportunities to share their perspectives on inflation, interest rates, and economic growth.
European benchmark Bund yields reached their highest point in nearly two and a half years Thursday, while rate-sensitive two-year U.S. Treasury yields climbed to a six-month peak.
Among safe-haven assets, only the U.S. dollar has maintained strength since hostilities began, rising more than 2% against six major currencies.
Asian markets received some positive news as the United States granted a 30-day exemption allowing countries to purchase sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products currently stuck at sea. This announcement helped ease oil prices and reduced some stock market losses.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the decision as a measure to bring stability to global energy markets, though the subdued market response highlighted persistent inflation concerns and pessimistic investor attitudes worldwide.
Both U.S. and European stock futures indicate a modestly positive opening, though maintaining that upward trend remains uncertain.
Important economic data releases scheduled for Friday include UK GDP figures, France’s consumer price index, and eurozone industrial and manufacturing statistics.
The tech giant Apple announced Thursday it will reduce commission charges for developers operating through its App Store in mainland China, marking a significant victory for Chinese app creators following regulatory pressure in what represents Apple’s second-biggest market globally.
Beginning Sunday, the California-based company will decrease fees for in-app purchases and paid transactions from the current 30% down to 25%, according to a company statement posted online. Developers participating in Apple’s small business and mini apps partner programs will see even steeper cuts, with their fees dropping from 15% to 12%.
The term “mini apps” describes smaller software programs that function inside larger applications, such as those found within Tencent’s popular WeChat platform.
This development represents a major breakthrough for Chinese app developers and companies operating “super apps,” including tech giants Tencent and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. These platforms serve as hosts for numerous smaller applications developed by third-party creators.
According to a Thursday report from the state-run Economic Daily, the fee reduction could save Chinese developers more than 6 billion yuan ($873 million) in operational expenses each year. The publication presented this change as beneficial for Chinese digital consumers.
“This adjustment will … improve consumption choices and information transparency,” the Economic Daily reported.
“The premium for digital goods and services on the iOS side will be gradually eliminated, and the prices of membership subscriptions, game recharges, live broadcast tips, mini programs and other scenarios are expected to decrease, which is expected to save consumers up to nearly 1 billion yuan per year.”
The controversial 30% commission, often called the “Apple Tax,” continues to face antitrust examination from regulators around the world. European Union legislation implemented in 2024 compelled Apple to reduce commission rates to between 10% and 17% for developers. Meanwhile, in the United States, Apple now permits users to make in-app payments through alternative payment systems.
“In China’s case, (Apple) have been talking with the IT ministry and other departments, and have been requested or pressured to reduce their fees,” explained Rich Bishop, who founded AppInChina, a consulting firm that helps international software developers launch their applications in China.
The timing of this announcement is notable, as it takes effect on World Consumer Rights Day this Sunday, when Chinese state media traditionally spotlights companies accused of violating consumer rights. Apple faced similar scrutiny in 2013 when state broadcaster CCTV criticized the company’s customer service practices, resulting in a public apology from Apple.
Bishop suggested that Chinese authorities might eventually require Apple to process App Store revenue domestically rather than overseas, while also increasing regulatory supervision of foreign applications distributed in China.
Apple has previously complied with Chinese internet regulators’ requests to remove certain applications, including virtual private networks (VPNs), from its China App Store.
VPNs work by masking users’ actual locations through reassigned device codes, allowing Chinese users and foreign businesses operating in China to circumvent the country’s strict internet censorship of international websites.
Bloomberg News reported last year that China’s antitrust authority was considering an investigation into Apple’s policies and App Store fees, while Chinese consumers filed an antitrust complaint regarding the company’s fee structure last October. Google recently reduced Android developer fees globally.
The fee reduction extends to international developers whose applications are available through the China App Store.
“Duolingo, the top-grossing education app in China, makes about $50 million a year from the Chinese market and this will be saving them a decent amount of money,” Bishop noted.
A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for coastal areas of Delmarva through 10 AM Tuesday morning, with visibility dropping to just one-quarter to one-half mile in some areas.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory Monday evening, warning that hazardous driving conditions are expected across Delaware’s beaches and several New Jersey coastal counties including Eastern Monmouth, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, and Coastal Ocean.
The thick fog is creating dangerous conditions for morning commuters and anyone traveling along coastal roadways. Meteorologists say the dense fog will persist overnight before gradually lifting Tuesday morning.
If you must drive during the advisory period, officials strongly recommend slowing down significantly, using your headlights even during daylight hours, and maintaining extra distance between your vehicle and others on the road. Consider delaying non-essential travel until visibility improves.
The advisory remains in effect until 10 AM Tuesday, though conditions may begin improving earlier in some inland areas. Drivers should continue monitoring weather conditions and exercise extreme caution when visibility is reduced.
Stay with TV Delmarva for the latest weather updates and traffic conditions as this fog advisory continues.
Good morning, Delmarva! We’re starting this Tuesday with some patchy fog across the peninsula, but don’t worry – it’ll clear out by 9am, giving way to mostly sunny skies and pleasant conditions.
Today’s looking quite nice with temperatures climbing to a comfortable 74 degrees. Winds will be light and variable from the southwest at 0 to 5 mph, making it a perfect day to get outside and enjoy the mild March weather.
Tonight will be mostly clear and cool, with lows dropping to around 53 degrees – ideal sleeping weather if you like to keep the windows open.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, we’ll see partly sunny skies early, but keep an eye on the afternoon and evening. There’s a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms developing later in the day, with highs reaching 75 degrees. Those rain chances continue into Wednesday night with lows around 56.
Overall, it’s shaping up to be a beautiful start to the week across our area. Enjoy the sunshine today, and have those umbrellas handy for tomorrow afternoon, just in case!
Stay weather-aware, Delmarva!
Delaware drivers are being urged to exercise extreme caution this morning as thick fog has settled across the First State, creating hazardous driving conditions with reduced visibility.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that dense fog with varying levels of intensity has been spotted throughout all three counties, prompting officials to issue a travel advisory for motorists.
Visibility conditions are fluctuating across different areas of the state, making it difficult for drivers to see clearly on roadways. Transportation officials recommend reducing speed, increasing following distance, and using low-beam headlights when navigating through the foggy conditions.
Drivers should allow extra time for their commute and consider delaying non-essential travel until visibility improves. The fog is expected to impact morning travel times as commuters head to work and school.
Delaware residents will soon have access to DMV services in Wilmington again, as the state facility prepares to resume operations next year.
The Wilmington Department of Motor Vehicles location is set to reopen its doors on March 10, 2026, according to state transportation officials. However, walk-in service will not be available when the office returns to operation.
All customers seeking DMV services at the Wilmington location will need to schedule appointments in advance once the facility begins serving the public again. This appointment-only system will be in effect from the reopening date forward.
The announcement comes as Delaware continues to manage service delivery at various DMV locations throughout the state. Residents who need immediate DMV services can visit other operational locations or utilize online services where available.
A single mother raising two teenagers in Minnesota faces the possibility of losing her family’s food assistance benefits due to new federal policy changes affecting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Mara, who is currently unemployed, relies on SNAP benefits to help feed her household. Her situation highlights concerns raised by policy analysts about upcoming modifications to the food assistance program.
According to experts who study food policy, the new regulations fail to account for the unique difficulties encountered by single parents trying to support their families. These specialists contend that removing food aid will simply add more obstacles for households already facing financial hardship.
The changes come as part of broader reforms to federal assistance programs, with officials arguing that new work requirements will encourage employment among recipients. However, critics suggest that such modifications may not consider the complex realities faced by parents like Mara who are caring for children while seeking employment.
The impact of these policy shifts extends beyond individual families, with researchers noting that reduced access to food assistance could affect community stability and child welfare in areas where SNAP benefits provide crucial support for local economies.
Subway passengers who vent their frustrations about sweltering underground conditions on social media platforms have scientific backing for their grievances, according to new research published Tuesday.
A Northwestern University study examining more than 85,000 social media posts and Google Maps reviews from 2008 to 2024 reveals a direct correlation between rising surface temperatures and increased complaints about underground heat in New York, Boston, and London transit systems. The findings appeared in the journal Nature Cities.
Researchers scoured posts on platform X and review sites, searching for temperature-related keywords like “hot” and “warm” while excluding unrelated terms such as “hot dog.” They focused on these three metropolitan areas because they operate some of the world’s most established and heavily trafficked subway networks.
The data showed striking patterns: when outdoor temperatures increased by just 1 degree Fahrenheit, heat-related complaints jumped 10% in Boston, 12% in New York, and 27% in London. This correlation becomes more concerning when considering that Earth’s average temperature has risen 1 degree Fahrenheit between 2008 and 2024, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“Interestingly, over the weekend, people complained less,” noted Giorgia Chinazzo, assistant professor in Northwestern’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, who co-authored the study with associate professor Alessandro Rotta Loria. Chinazzo suggested that weekend clothing choices might contribute to this difference compared to workday attire.
The research team examined posts across different seasons, times of day, and days of the week to identify these patterns.
Flavio Lehner, an assistant professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences at Cornell University who wasn’t part of the research team, explained that the study “follows the template of previous studies that link environmental conditions to human behavior using social media data.” Lehner has conducted similar research on how warmer conditions trigger stronger online responses.
However, Lehner pointed out research limitations, including the focus on only three transit systems and challenges in controlling for other factors that might influence social media activity.
Kris Ebi, a University of Washington professor specializing in public health and climate who also wasn’t involved in the study, believes the actual effects of subway heat exceed what researchers documented because vulnerable populations have limited social media representation.
Ebi emphasized that the study’s scope “provides compelling evidence that cities should be planning for measures to keep people safe during hot weather.”
This type of research could influence how transit authorities and policymakers address extreme heat conditions in the future.
“We’re all experiencing rising temperatures. So those above will be reflected underground, and this will be reflected in people complaining more and more,” Chinazzo explained. “Mitigation and adaptation strategies are things that will be much more implemented in the future.”
Potential solutions could include installing ventilation systems, operating cooling systems during peak heat hours, or providing water stations at strategic times.
“We need new technologies and tools, new methodologies that people can use to face these changes in temperatures that everyone is aware of and experiencing nowadays,” she concluded. “And it will be worse in the future.”
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — United Nations peacekeepers in South Sudan announced Monday they will disregard a military directive demanding they abandon their base in Akobo, a town controlled by opposition forces located near the Ethiopian border that has become a refuge for tens of thousands of displaced people.
The South Sudanese military issued the evacuation order on Friday, instructing UN peacekeepers, non-governmental organizations, and civilians to leave Akobo in advance of a military operation they plan to conduct.
However, the peacekeeping mission rejected the demand and declared it will maintain “a protective presence for civilians” in the area, emphasizing that the safety and security of its staff “must be fully respected at all times.”
According to the UN Mission, officials are conducting “intensive” discussions with various government levels regarding the evacuation directive. Mission leader Anita Kiki Gbeho stated, “Any military operations in and around Akobo gravely endanger the safety and security of civilians.”
South Sudan’s government has been engaged in combat with opposition groups since a 2018 peace agreement collapsed approximately one year ago.
The conflict intensified significantly in December 2025 when opposition fighters captured multiple government positions in northern Jonglei. Government forces launched a counter-attack one month later that pushed back opposition troops but caused more than 280,000 people to flee their homes. Thousands of these displaced individuals have sought safety in Akobo, where a small group of UN peacekeepers maintains a presence.
With concerns mounting about the impending government offensive against Akobo, aid workers were removed over the weekend, and large numbers of residents have started leaving the town.
Local authorities who spoke with The Associated Press described the dangers facing evacuating civilians and critical shortages of necessary supplies. Dual Diew, who serves as Akobo County’s health director and has escaped to Ethiopia, reported that 84 injured patients were at the local hospital. “We have most of them with us here now,” Diew explained, noting they are without adequate medicine and basic medical equipment.
Christophe Garnier, who heads Doctors Without Borders operations in South Sudan, reported his organization had to remove its personnel from Akobo on Saturday and later discovered their hospital had been looted and their office destroyed.
“People in Akobo must now either flee without protection or remain at risk of being killed, while losing access to healthcare and other essential services,” Garnier stated.
Three Western nations that have been central to peace negotiations — the United States, United Kingdom, and Norway — delivered a letter to President Kiir on Monday calling for the military’s evacuation order to be withdrawn and cautioning about “further deaths, displacement and suffering for the South Sudanese people” if the Akobo offensive proceeds.
Frightened by blasts that have rocked their neighborhoods in Tehran and major urban centers, thousands of Iranian families have evacuated to rural areas, seeking safety in remote villages during ongoing strikes by Israeli and American forces.
Among those who fled is 22-year-old Pouya Akhgari, now staying with relatives in a mountain village in Zanjan province, roughly 120 miles from his Tehran residence. While snow blankets the rural landscape, he passes time watching entertainment programs and occasionally traveling to nearby larger communities.
Though his current location remains untouched by attacks, contacts back in the capital describe constant explosions around them.
“It just feels so chaotic. I thought it’d be very short but it’s dragging on,” he told The Associated Press by a messaging app. “If it goes on like this, we’ll run out of money.”
United Nations refugee officials report that approximately 100,000 residents abandoned Tehran during the conflict’s opening 48 hours, representing a significant portion of the metropolitan area’s 9.7 million population. Officials believe the actual number of displaced persons is considerably higher, though comprehensive data from subsequent days and other affected cities remains unavailable.
A 39-year-old attorney experienced a full day of explosions rattling her residence in Ahvaz, located 500 miles southeast of Tehran. The following day, March 2nd, she departed with her siblings and their families – including their pets Coco and Maggie – heading to their family’s strawberry cultivation operation in a distant small community.
The woman and others contacted by AP requested anonymity to avoid potential retaliation, and she declined to identify their current location.
Their temporary refuge lacks military installations, providing a sense of relative security. However, Iran’s southern regions have experienced some of the heaviest bombardment. She noted that a neighboring community witnessed an explosion when strikes targeted a Revolutionary Guard ammunition facility belonging to the country’s most influential military organization.
She remains concerned about potential attacks on a fitness center used by Guard personnel located several hundred meters from their agricultural property. Air strikes have targeted numerous athletic facilities throughout Iran, apparently because Guard forces frequently utilize such locations for meetings. While the gym’s distance would likely protect them from direct impact, she acknowledged, “but all the same, the danger exists.”
With no one reporting to jobs and children separated from their schools, families occupy themselves by walking their dogs, engaging in board games, and harvesting strawberries.
The tranquil natural surroundings help create distance from the conflict – clouds drifting over verdant hills and neighboring goats calling at dusk. The attorney described the birth of puppies to one of their farm dogs, Maya, as the most uplifting moment.
Nevertheless, uncertainty pervades their daily existence.
“From morning to night, we talk about what is happening, our worries, how everything gets more expensive every day, about how far our money will stretch,” she said.
“If this situation continues, we will have problems meeting basic needs.”
The American-Israeli military operation has delivered significant damage to Iran’s governing structure, eliminating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders. The campaign has specifically focused on Revolutionary Guard and paramilitary Basij forces, the organizations responsible for defending the clerical Islamic Republic and suppressing anti-government demonstrations, including recent January protests.
Leadership control continues under Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the former supreme leader’s son, who assumed the top position this week. Guard and Basij organizations have maintained their local operational networks thus far.
During infrequent trips from the farm into town, the lawyer observed increased weaponry among street-patrolling Basij members.
“They are waiting for the slightest movement” showing dissent, she said.
Previously an activist opposing mandatory head covering requirements – she faced brief detention in the past – and had abandoned wearing hijab years earlier, she now covers her hair when leaving home to avoid provoking Basij forces.
The community traditionally supports the government, she explained, with many residents holding state employment or Guard membership. Religious and patronage connections remain strong in rural regions particularly, since the Islamic Republic extended essential services to Iran’s countryside and smaller communities.
Despite this, she has observed increasing dissatisfaction even locally. Substantial crowds participated in January’s anti-government demonstrations, and compliance with official mourning observances for Khamenei has been limited, with few residents wearing black clothing as authorities requested.
One father described how explosions caused his 6½-year-old son to shake with terror before they evacuated their Tehran home.
“You place him between you and your wife in bed, hoping he might feel safer,” he said, but the child continued screaming during sleep. They determined departure was necessary.
While driving through the capital, they witnessed roadside vehicles with windows destroyed by blasts. Departing the city at the Alborz Mountain foothills north of Tehran, they observed smoke columns rising from various city sections into the cloudy sky.
“The scene made the city look frightening,” he said.
On the western highway from Tehran, heavy with traffic, explosions shook their vehicle, terrorizing his son. Eventually they reached family accommodations in a small mountain village northwest of the capital, overlooking the Caspian Sea.
They now spend days in the house, surrounded by rice cultivation fields, with snow-covered peaks visible in the distance. Daily, he and his wife take their son for walks.
“Boys have so much energy, and in a village, there is not much fun for him,” he said. Evenings bring visits from his wife’s parents, who also evacuated Tehran.
Throughout the disruption, local residents demonstrate “remarkable kindness,” he said.
At the neighborhood bakery, he encountered a lengthy line. When the baker recognized him as an outsider, he was called forward and the baker attempted to refuse payment for bread.
“The others in line were very friendly, asking whether I had a place to stay and whether I needed anything,” he said.
Evacuation remains impossible for everyone.
A 53-year-old Tehran man explained he cannot relocate his elderly parents and must remain home. The psychological pressure is overwhelming, he said.
“At night, I go down to the parking garage, sit inside my car and scream out loud,” he said. “I pray for calm and for quieter days.”
Elon Musk’s space exploration company SpaceX is reportedly favoring the Nasdaq stock exchange for its highly anticipated initial public offering, which industry experts believe could set records as the largest IPO ever conducted, according to four individuals with knowledge of the company’s internal discussions.
The rocket and satellite manufacturing giant has made early admission to the prestigious Nasdaq 100 index a key requirement for any potential stock market debut on the technology-focused exchange, two sources revealed. However, these plans remain fluid and subject to change, noted the individuals who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing deliberations.
Previous reporting has indicated SpaceX is targeting an IPO timeline as soon as this June.
The New York Stock Exchange remains in contention for the high-profile listing, with neither exchange having received final word on SpaceX’s decision, according to multiple sources close to the situation.
The Nasdaq 100 index, managed by Nasdaq Inc, represents a premier collection of blue-chip stocks closely monitored by major institutional investors and serves as a key indicator of market health for the world’s largest publicly traded companies, including technology giants such as Nvidia, Apple, and Amazon. The index posted approximately 21% gains in the previous year and has shown modest declines year-to-date.
Last month, Nasdaq introduced a proposed regulation that could expedite the process for adding newly public megacap companies to its flagship index.
This potential rule change, still awaiting final approval and implementation over the coming months, aims to attract highly valued private enterprises including SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI to choose the exchange for their public debuts.
The proposed “Fast Entry” provision would allow qualifying newly listed companies to join the index in approximately one month, provided their market capitalization places them among the index’s current top 40 constituents. SpaceX is reportedly pursuing a valuation near $1.75 trillion for its public offering, which would position it as the sixth-most valuable U.S. company based on current market prices.
Current regulations require newly public companies to wait as long as one year before becoming eligible for inclusion in major indices like the S&P 500 or Nasdaq 100, allowing time to prove their stability and capacity to manage substantial institutional investment flows.
Membership in elite indices such as the Nasdaq 100 or S&P 500 provides companies enhanced access to well-funded institutional investors who typically purchase substantial stakes for their index-tracking funds, expanding the shareholder base and enhancing trading liquidity over time. While the NYSE maintains a comparable index of its 100 largest U.S. stocks, it receives less attention from the investment community, making Nasdaq 100 inclusion particularly valuable for major IPOs.
For company leadership and early investors, improved liquidity could minimize market disruption from large stock sales following the expiration of lockup periods, which typically last 90 to 180 days post-IPO, though significant insider selling could still pressure share prices.
SpaceX has not responded to requests for comment regarding these reports.
Earlier reporting in February revealed that SpaceX advisers had contacted major index providers, including Nasdaq, to explore accelerated inclusion in key market indices.
The SpaceX public offering is anticipated to headline what appears to be one of the most active IPO periods in recent years, with numerous prominent venture-backed companies and startups, including OpenAI and Anthropic, preparing for their own market debuts.
Voters in Georgia are casting ballots Tuesday in a special congressional election to fill the seat vacated by controversial Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, with the outcome serving as an early indicator of former President Donald Trump’s political influence in one of the state’s most conservative areas.
Former district attorney Clay Fuller has received Trump’s backing for the position representing four counties in northwest Georgia. However, he faces competition from Colton Moore, a former state senator with far-right views who describes himself as “Trump’s #1 Defender” and is attempting to appeal directly to the former president’s most devoted supporters.
The crowded field of 17 contenders makes it unlikely anyone will secure an outright majority in what’s anticipated to be a contest with limited voter participation, leading to a runoff scheduled for April 7 between the two highest vote-getters. Democratic candidate Shawn Harris is also competing and has been working to attract disenchanted Trump supporters.
National political observers are paying close attention to this contest because it provides an early indication of Trump’s hold on his political base in a region that has served as a cornerstone of his Make America Great Again coalition. A decisive victory for Fuller would demonstrate Trump’s ongoing political clout, while a disappointing result might suggest his influence is diminishing among MAGA supporters.
“This is an interesting case to see how powerful Trump’s hold over the party is in that particular district,” said Kerwin Swint, a political science professor at Kennesaw State University who lives in the district at stake.
According to Swint’s analysis, the most probable scenario involves Harris leading the initial vote count without achieving a majority, while the dozen Republican contenders divide their party’s support between Fuller and Moore for the second runoff position. Swint noted that Harris would face steep odds in a runoff against any Republican candidate due to the district’s deeply conservative character.
The 14th Congressional District of Georgia encompasses a predominantly working-class region stretching from Atlanta’s outer suburbs northward to the Tennessee state line. This area gained national prominence when Greene won decisively in 2020 and rapidly emerged as one of MAGA’s most vocal and recognizable figures nationwide.
Following Greene’s departure in January after a bitter disagreement with Trump, district residents are now considering the Republican Party’s future direction and determining how much say the former president should have in selecting her replacement.
Trump made a campaign appearance last month in Rome, a key city within the district, where he brought Fuller onto the stage to endorse him as his preferred candidate. Despite this backing, the race remains unpredictable, with some Trump supporters expressing their desire to make an independent choice.
Moore maintains confidence in his ability to prevail without Trump’s official endorsement, pointing to his aggressive promotion of Trump’s unfounded assertions about the 2020 election being fraudulent and his attacks on perceived political opponents as evidence of his appeal to MAGA loyalists.
During a recent interview, Moore claimed that substantial “DC swamp money” has poured into the district to support Fuller through television advertising and other means. He suggested that some “low-information voters” might support Fuller solely because of Trump’s endorsement.
“But the activists, the people who are most likely to get out and vote, they know we were Trump’s number one defender in Georgia,” said Moore.
The special election winner will hold the position until the end of 2026 but must immediately begin campaigning for the complete two-year term beginning in January 2027, starting with a May primary that could feature many of the same candidates competing once again.
That subsequent race will be part of November’s general election, when voters will decide control of all 435 House seats and one-third of the Senate’s 100 positions.
Tuesday’s election occurs just days after joint U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran, a development that some White House officials privately believe could create political challenges for Trump and Republicans when voters have indicated greater concern with domestic priorities such as cost of living and healthcare access.
Motorists should plan for delays on a section of Hardin Lane today as construction crews continue their work in the area.
Delaware Department of Transportation reports that periodic lane restrictions are affecting traffic on Hardin Lane between Phyllis Drive and Darwin Drive. The construction-related closures are expected to continue throughout the day until 6 PM.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time when using this route and consider alternate paths if possible to avoid potential delays.
LOS ANGELES — In a thrilling Thursday night matchup, Luka Doncic delivered a masterful 51-point performance while collecting 10 rebounds and dishing out nine assists, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a commanding 142-130 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The win was made even sweeter by LeBron James’ return to action after sitting out three games due to injury concerns.
The stellar outing marked Doncic’s first time reaching the 50-point milestone since joining the Lakers through a major trade from Dallas back in February 2025. This explosive performance represents his 13th game scoring 40 or more points in just 82 appearances wearing purple and gold, placing him ninth on the franchise’s all-time list.
Supporting the dynamic duo, Austin Reaves contributed 30 points while Deandre Ayton posted 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his 20th double-double this season. The triumph extends Los Angeles’ current hot streak to four consecutive victories, marking their best run since they won seven straight games between November 14-30.
The victory propelled Los Angeles past the idle Houston Rockets into the third position in the competitive Western Conference standings.
Chicago received strong efforts from Josh Giddey, who tallied 27 points, and Matas Buzelis, who added 22 points. The undermanned Bulls have been inconsistent lately, trading wins and losses over their last six contests after enduring a brutal 11-game losing streak throughout February.
James appeared rusty early on following his absence due to a right hip contusion and arthritis in his left foot. The 41-year-old superstar managed just three points in the opening half, converting a layup and free throw with 54 seconds left before halftime. However, that sequence seemed to ignite the veteran, as he caught fire in the third quarter by making all five of his field goal attempts for 11 points in the period, finishing with 18 points overall.
The Bulls stayed competitive throughout much of the contest thanks to excellent three-point shooting from Giddey and Buzelis, who combined to hit 10 of their 20 attempts from beyond the arc. Their hot shooting in the second quarter helped keep Chicago within striking distance. Overall, the Bulls connected on 15 of 36 three-point attempts.
Looking ahead, Chicago will travel to face the Clippers on Friday, while the Lakers will welcome the Nuggets to Los Angeles on Saturday.
OKLAHOMA CITY — NBA history was made Thursday night as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpassed a legendary milestone that had remained untouched for over six decades.
Gilgeous-Alexander shattered Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most consecutive games scoring 20 or more points, reaching his 127th straight game during the Thunder’s 104-102 victory over the Boston Celtics.
The record-breaking moment arrived in the third quarter when Gilgeous-Alexander converted two free throws to reach 19 points. With the Oklahoma City crowd rising to their feet in anticipation, the star guard used several pump fakes before sinking a jumper over Boston’s Baylor Scheierman from just inside the free-throw line with 7:04 remaining in the quarter, bringing his total to 21 points.
The Thunder guard concluded the evening with 35 points and nine assists in the thrilling two-point victory.
Chamberlain’s previous mark had remained intact since 1963, and initially it appeared Gilgeous-Alexander might face difficulty reaching the milestone. He remained scoreless until the midpoint of the opening quarter, though he managed 10 points by the period’s end and had accumulated 17 by halftime.
Last season’s MVP winner has maintained remarkable consistency for the defending champion Thunder, potentially positioning himself for another MVP honor. After claiming the scoring championship last year, he currently ranks second in league scoring this season while Oklahoma City holds the NBA’s top record.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised his star player’s unwavering dedication before the game.
“That’s the impressive thing about him,” Daigneault said. “Human nature is that you have success, you ease a little bit, and he’s the opposite. He tastes it, he wants more, he wants to come back for seconds.”
Chamberlain’s original streak spanned from 1961 to 1963, including every contest of the 1961-62 campaign for the Philadelphia Warriors — the same season featuring his legendary 100-point performance in 1962. The Hall of Famer’s consecutive games streak concluded on January 20, 1963, when officials ejected him after only four minutes while playing for the San Francisco Warriors against St. Louis.
Gilgeous-Alexander had matched Chamberlain’s record Monday night, posting 35 points against the Denver Nuggets along with career-high 15 assists and nine rebounds, capped by the game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds.
“He puts the work behind it, does it consistently,” Daigneault explained. “He’s a perfectionist when it comes to his craft. He’s got an unbelievably high bar for himself, and yet, he’s incredibly empathic with his teammates.”
During his remarkable run, Gilgeous-Alexander has recorded five games of 50 or more points, highlighted by a career-best 55-point performance against Indiana in this season’s second game. His last sub-20 point outing occurred on October 30, 2024, when he managed 18 points versus San Antonio.
Earlier this season, Gilgeous-Alexander had already surpassed Chamberlain’s second-longest streak of 92 consecutive games. The Thunder have compiled an impressive 103-24 record throughout Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic run.
The achievement caps a remarkable week for NBA scoring accomplishments, as Miami’s Bam Adebayo tallied 83 points Tuesday night — the second-highest total in league history behind Chamberlain’s century mark.
BERLIN (AP) — In a Berlin apartment, Ali Darwich reaches for a date from his dinner plate, drinks some water, and speaks to the 15 guests gathered around his table for an evening Ramadan meal.
The 33-year-old German citizen of Palestinian and Lebanese heritage, known as @alifragt or “Ali asks” on Instagram, has built a rapidly expanding social media presence by highlighting the challenges faced by young, LGBTQ+ Muslims while advocating for greater acceptance and inclusion.
“Tonight we want to send a message that no matter where a person comes from, no matter who that person loves, no matter how queer that person is, they cannot be too queer … because they are exactly as they should be,” Darwich tells the mixed gathering of Muslims and Christians, Germans and immigrants, gay and straight individuals sharing the sunset meal in Berlin.
“I am a believer, I believe in God, and I find Islam beautiful, just like Christianity or Judaism and many other religions,” he explains. However, he acknowledges that acceptance isn’t always easy for homosexuals to find — a challenge that extends beyond Muslim communities to include LGBTQ+ Christians and believers of various faiths.
The gathering takes place amid rising hostility toward LGBTQ+ individuals and gay-friendly venues throughout Germany, including Berlin, a city known for its historically welcoming attitude toward the community.
Recent 2024 data reveals a 40% surge in violence directed at LGBTQ+ individuals across 12 of Germany’s 16 states compared to 2023, according to the Association of Counseling Centers for Victims of Right-Wing, Racist and Antisemitic Violence.
In one Instagram post, Darwich films himself sitting alone at a table during Ramadan, discussing the isolation experienced by Muslim homosexuals who face rejection from their families. This isolation becomes particularly painful during religious holidays traditionally centered on family gatherings, he explains.
He encourages people to welcome queer Muslims into their homes so they won’t spend Iftar, the evening Ramadan meal, in solitude.
To his gay followers, Darwich shares this Instagram message: “You deserve to break your fast surrounded by people who accept you — fully and without conditions.”
Darwich’s own coming-out experience several years ago proved challenging.
His mother initially refused to believe him, then broke down in tears, leading to six months of silence between them. Extended family members also struggled with the revelation.
“From one day to the next, I was no longer invited. Not only to Ramadan, but also to family celebrations, and that was a very difficult time for me,” he shared in an Associated Press interview this week.
Though Darwich and his mother have since reconciled, he credits his friends with becoming a chosen family during that difficult period, providing the support and acceptance he needed.
For this week’s in-person Iftar in Berlin, his friend Randa Weiser, a 40-year-old German-Palestinian influencer who documents family life with her three children and husband under @randa_and_the_gang, opened her home to Ali and their mutual friends.
She prepared an elaborate spread featuring freekeh soup, aromatic yellow rice with almonds, raisins and cardamom, grilled chicken drumsticks, and an assortment of sweet desserts.
“It’s an absolute colorful mix tonight,” she observed, describing the diverse crowd around the Iftar table. While most attendees are German, many trace their family origins to distant countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Turkey, Chechnya, Syria, Iran and Peru.
Weiser mentioned receiving “some hate” on Instagram after announcing her plans to host an inclusive Iftar, but noted that most of her followers support the idea that “you can be Muslim and gay or lesbian.”
As the group — many of whom are also social media influencers — enjoyed Weiser’s cooking, they frequently filmed each other and quickly shared content on their accounts.
Among them was Darwich’s close friend Haidar Darwish, a belly dancer and artist who arrived from Syria in 2016, dressed festively in a red fez and white, gold-embroidered gallabiyah for the occasion.
“The hate and crimes against women, Muslim people, Jewish people also, and queers and trans siblings of mine have increased,” said Darwish, who posts as @thedarvishofficial on Instagram.
“But no matter how much the others will show us hate, we can show more love only if we are believing in ourselves,” he continued, emphasizing that they will persevere with “the help of our allies and friends and people that have our backs.”
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has leveled serious allegations against Pakistan’s armed forces, claiming they conducted deadly overnight bombing raids on residential neighborhoods in the capital city and Kandahar province early Friday morning.
Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X that the alleged Pakistani air attacks resulted in casualties among women and children living in civilian areas. The claims come as hostilities between the neighboring nations have persisted for three weeks, continuing despite international appeals for both sides to de-escalate.
According to Mujahid’s statement, Pakistani warplanes also bombed fuel storage facilities owned by private carrier Kam Air located near the airport in Kandahar.
Pakistani military officials and government representatives have not yet responded to the Taliban’s accusations.
Drivers using Estates Drive should plan for potential delays as road crews conduct intermittent flagging operations in the area.
The traffic control work is taking place along the stretch of Estates Drive that runs between Appleby Road and Conlin Court. Officials say the flagging operations will remain in effect until 6 PM today.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time when using this route and to exercise caution when approaching the work zone area.
Motorists traveling through a section of Bayard Avenue are facing traffic delays today due to ongoing construction work.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that one lane is currently closed on Bayard Avenue in the area between Chesapeake Street and Carolina Street. The lane restriction is expected to remain in place until 4 PM this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time when passing through the affected area and to use caution around construction workers and equipment.
Motorists traveling on Route 72 northbound should expect delays due to ongoing construction work that has reduced traffic to fewer lanes.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that Chapel Street/Sunset Lake Road northbound is experiencing a lane closure in the stretch between South Old Baltimore Pike and the Interstate 95 overpass.
Officials indicate the construction-related lane restriction will continue through 3:00 PM today before normal traffic patterns resume.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time or consider alternate routes to avoid potential congestion in the affected area.
WASHINGTON, March 13 – Internal White House divisions are influencing President Donald Trump’s contradictory public remarks about the Iran conflict, as administration officials debate how and when to end military operations while the war continues expanding throughout the Middle East.
According to interviews with a Trump adviser and sources familiar with the discussions, some administration officials are cautioning Trump about potential political damage from rising fuel costs due to U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, while defense hawks are urging the president to continue the assault on the Islamic Republic.
These revelations provide an unprecedented look into White House strategy discussions regarding the largest U.S. military engagement since the Iraq invasion of 2003.
COMPETING VOICES AND MIXED SIGNALS
The internal competition for Trump’s attention highlights the significant challenges facing the president, who returned to power last year pledging to end “foolish” military interventions, nearly two weeks after launching a war that has shaken global markets and disrupted international energy supplies.
While influence battles are typical in Trump’s administration, this situation involves life-and-death decisions in one of the planet’s most unstable and economically vital regions.
Moving away from the broad objectives he outlined when starting the war on February 28, Trump has recently portrayed the conflict as a focused operation with largely completed goals.
However, his messaging remains confusing to many observers, including energy traders who have reacted erratically to his statements.
During a rally-style event in Kentucky on Wednesday, he declared “we won” the war, then quickly changed course: “We don’t want to leave early, do we? We’ve got to finish the job.”
Treasury Department officials and National Economic Council members have cautioned Trump that oil market disruptions and increased gasoline costs could rapidly diminish public war support, according to the adviser and two additional sources who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Political strategists, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief James Blair, are making comparable arguments, emphasizing potential political consequences from higher fuel prices and encouraging Trump to define success narrowly while signaling the operation’s limited scope and near completion, sources indicated.
Meanwhile, hawkish voices are advocating for sustained military pressure against Iran, including Republican senators like Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton, plus media figures such as Mark Levin, according to informed sources.
These voices contend the U.S. must stop Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities and respond forcefully to attacks on American personnel and vessels.
A third influence comes from Trump’s populist supporters and figures like strategist Steve Bannon and television personality Tucker Carlson, who have been urging him and senior staff to avoid another extended Middle Eastern engagement.
“He is allowing the hawks to believe the campaign continues, wants markets to believe the war might end soon and his base to believe escalation will be limited,” the Trump adviser explained.
When asked for response, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated: “This story is based on gossip and speculation from anonymous sources who aren’t even in the room for any discussions with President Trump.
“The President is known for being a good listener and seeking the opinions of many people, but ultimately everyone knows he’s the final decision maker and his own best messenger,” she continued. “The President’s entire team is focused on ensuring the objectives of Operation Epic Fury are fully achieved.”
Other individuals mentioned regarding their roles in the discussions did not immediately respond to questions.
SEARCHING FOR A WAY OUT
When taking America into war, Trump provided minimal justification, and the administration’s stated objectives have varied from preventing an immediate Iranian attack to destroying its nuclear capabilities to overthrowing its government.
While seeking an exit from an unpopular conflict, Trump is attempting to balance competing narratives that critics argue have complicated an already challenging situation, with Iran remaining defiant despite devastating U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.
Senior political advisers and economic officials, whose pre-war warnings about potential economic disruption were largely dismissed, appear to have significantly influenced Trump’s efforts this week to calm nervous markets and control rising energy costs.
His public pivot to minimizing the war’s impact, calling it a “short-term excursion,” and his claims that fuel price increases would be temporary seemed designed to ease fears about an indefinite conflict.
Some top advisers have recommended he work toward ending the conflict in a way he can claim as a victory, at least militarily, sources said, even if much Iranian leadership survives along with nuclear program remnants the campaign was supposed to eliminate.
Repeated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes have eliminated numerous top Iranian officials among approximately 2,000 total casualties – some as distant as Lebanon – destroyed much of its missile arsenal, sunk significant naval assets and weakened its ability to support regional proxy forces.
However, military gains have been significantly undermined by Iran’s increased attacks on oil tankers and transportation infrastructure in the Gulf, pushing up energy prices.
Trump has indicated he will determine when to conclude the campaign. He and his staff claim they are well ahead of the four- to six-week timeline Trump originally announced.
The changing justifications for launching the conflict, which has spread to more than half a dozen countries, have made predicting future developments even more difficult.
For their part, Iranian leaders will declare victory, analysts predict, simply for surviving the U.S.-Israeli assault, particularly after showing their capacity to retaliate and damage Israel, the U.S. and allied nations.
VENEZUELA MISJUDGMENT
The war’s ultimate direction will depend heavily on the Strait of Hormuz. Twenty percent of global oil shipments, which typically pass through the narrow channel, have nearly stopped. Iran has recently attacked tankers in Iraqi waters and other vessels near the strait, and new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has promised to keep it closed.
If Iran’s control over the waterway drives U.S. gasoline prices high enough, that could create political pressure on Trump to end military operations to help his Republican Party, which is protecting slim congressional majorities in November’s midterm elections.
Trump has recently stopped promoting the idea that the war aims to overthrow Tehran’s government. U.S. intelligence suggests Iran’s leadership faces no immediate collapse risk, Reuters reported Wednesday.
At least some confusion about the war’s direction appears connected to rapid U.S. military success in Venezuela.
Since the war began, some aides have had difficulty persuading Trump that the Iran campaign would likely not proceed like the January 3 Venezuela operation that captured President Nicolas Maduro, according to another source familiar with administration thinking.
That mission enabled Trump to pressure former Maduro supporters into giving him significant influence over the country’s massive oil reserves – without requiring extended U.S. military involvement.
Iran, in contrast, has proven a much stronger, better-equipped opponent with an established religious and security structure.
Experts have dismissed Trump aide claims that Iran was weeks away from producing nuclear weapons, despite the president’s June assertion that U.S.-Israeli bombing had “obliterated” its nuclear program.
Most of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile is believed buried by June strikes, meaning the material could potentially be recovered and refined to weapons grade. Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons.
If the war continues, American casualties increase and economic costs grow, some analysts suggest it could weaken support from Trump’s political base. However, despite criticism from some supporters opposing military interventions, members of his “Make America Great Again” movement have largely remained supportive regarding Iran.
“The MAGA base is going to give the president wiggle room,” said Republican strategist Ford O’Connell.
The head of mining giant Glencore remains optimistic about rekindling merger discussions with Rio Tinto, banking on rising coal prices to strengthen his company’s negotiating position, according to three investors who met with executives from both firms in Australia this week.
Gary Nagle, Glencore’s chief executive, believes recent market shifts could pave the way for renewed talks aimed at forming what would become the world’s largest mining operation, the investors revealed in private discussions.
The two mining powerhouses had been negotiating earlier this year to create a massive $240 billion enterprise that would combine Glencore’s marketing operations and copper holdings with Rio Tinto’s mining expertise to meet surging demand for copper.
Those negotiations collapsed in February when the companies couldn’t agree on valuation terms. British regulations now prevent Rio Tinto from restarting discussions with Glencore for six months.
Despite the setback, Nagle expressed confidence about future opportunities to strike a deal, according to the three investors who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the conversations.
“This is definitely not going away, unfortunately,” commented one investor who opposes the potential merger.
Both Glencore and Rio Tinto refused to provide comment when contacted.
Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott had explained the breakdown during a February media briefing, stating: “Ultimately we formed the view that we couldn’t stand up a value case, and that’s where it stands.”
Market performance has shifted in Glencore’s favor since the talks ended. The Switzerland-based commodity trading and mining company’s stock has outpaced Rio Tinto’s this year, potentially giving Glencore grounds to demand a larger portion of any merged entity.
According to the sources, Glencore took issue with Rio Tinto’s valuation method, which relied on commodity spot prices from January 7 – the day before merger talks became public knowledge.
Nagle argued for incorporating future price projections rather than relying solely on that snapshot, the investors reported.
Market movements since January 7 have favored Glencore significantly. Coal prices and Glencore shares have surged 26%, while Rio Tinto’s stock has gained only 9% as declining iron ore prices limited its growth.
These shifts have increased Glencore’s share of the combined market value to approximately 35% from the previous 31.5%, moving closer to the 40% stake Glencore had sought in the rejected proposal.
Glencore expects Rio Tinto’s core iron ore business to face challenges as the market moves toward oversupply, sources indicated. Nagle believes this trend will continue shifting the companies’ relative values, making a future deal more feasible.
Some Australian investors questioned the logic of Rio Tinto reacquiring coal assets after previously selling them to enhance its environmental profile. Nagle reportedly told investors that Australia lagged behind Europe, where environmental concerns about coal were “no longer an issue,” according to one source.
While valuation remained the primary obstacle, five Australian investment funds sent a joint letter to Rio Tinto’s board on January 20 raising additional concerns about governance, particularly citing ongoing corruption investigations into Glencore’s business practices.
Glencore dismissed the Australian opposition as representing roughly 4% of total shareholders – a small but vocal minority.
However, sources emphasized that more than half of Rio Tinto’s profits originate from Australian operations, meaning any merger could significantly impact the country and would require government approval. Additionally, the deal would need support from 50% of Australian stock exchange shareholders present and voting, plus 75% of all votes cast.
One investor noted that Glencore had underestimated Australian resistance, though the company’s investor outreach efforts were showing results. This investor viewed Glencore as a viable investment if it listed on the Australian exchange but saw no meaningful operational benefits from the proposed merger.
Another investor suggested that short-term stock gains wouldn’t be enough to change Rio Tinto’s position. During January discussions, the companies disagreed on valuing Glencore’s undeveloped copper projects in Argentina.
“I don’t see how Rio can change their mind in six months just because coal has gone up and iron ore has gone down,” the investor concluded.
Motorists traveling on Chicago Street should expect delays due to ongoing construction work that has reduced the roadway to one lane.
The lane closure affects the stretch of Chicago Street from King Charles Street to where the road terminates. Delaware Department of Transportation officials report the construction activity will keep one lane blocked until 4 PM today.
Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through the affected area.
Drivers using Route 12 southbound in Frederica are dealing with traffic delays today as construction crews have shut down one lane of travel.
The lane restriction affects the stretch of Frederica Road between Front Street and Market Street, according to DelDOT traffic officials.
The construction work and resulting lane closure is scheduled to wrap up by 4 PM today. Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time or consider alternate routes to avoid potential backups in the area.
Motorists traveling on Chicago Street should expect delays today due to ongoing construction work that has reduced traffic to one lane.
The lane closure affects the stretch of Chicago Street from King Charles Street extending to where the roadway terminates. According to DelDOT officials, the single-lane restriction will remain active until 4 PM this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through the construction zone.
