Headlines: 23-31 March 2026

Monday, 30 March 2026

Trump says he is considering seizing Iran's Kharg Island, but deal could be made 'very quickly' — 30 March 2026 (LINK)

Oil climbs above $116 after Trump says he wants to 'take the oil' in Iran — (LINK)

Pentagon prepares for potential weeks-long ground operations in Iran — (LINK)

— Following air strikes on the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement declaring that all US and Israeli universities in the Middle East are now "legitimate targets," the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The group stated these sites would remain targets until two universities are struck in retaliation for the destroyed Iranian facilities.

Sunday, 29 March 2026

Explosions in Tehran as Yemen's Houthis launch further attacks on Israel — 29 March 2026 (LINK)

Trump says he has "no problem" with Russian tanker bringing oil to Cuba despite blockade — 29 March 2026 (LINK)

New 'Cicada' COVID variant detected in 25 US states: fears it could more easily evade vaccine protections — 29 March 2026 (LINK)

France: Three arrests over foiled Bank of America attack in Paris — 29 March 2026 (LINK)

— Police said around 3:30 a.m. local time (0230 GMT) they spotted two men near the bank carrying a shopping bag. One of them had reportedly just placed a device, consisting of an ignition system and container full of liquid believed to be fuel, and was about to light it when he was detained. His accomplice fled the scene. An initial assessment also found some 650 grams (23 ounces) of explosive powder in the device. The object was taken to a forensics lab for a full analysis. AFP cited an unnamed police source as saying the first arrested suspect had been recruited via the Snapchat social media app to carry out the bombing in exchange for €600 (roughly $692).

DHS funding lapse is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history: 44 days — 29 March 2026 (LINK)

Where the funding fight for TSA, ICE and other DHS agencies stands amid shutdown — (LINK)

Roman shipwreck discovered in Lake of Neuchatel with loaded cargo lost for 2,000 years — 29 March 2026 (LINK)

Saturday, 28 March 2026

Pentagon waits for Trump's approval after planning 'weeks of ground operations' in Iran, report says — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

Israeli military said early on Saturday it had identified a launch of a missile from Yemen, hours after Iran-aligned Houthis said they were prepared to take action — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

12 US troops wounded, 2 seriously, in Iranian attack on Saudi base — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

Ukraine agrees defence cooperation with UAE, Qatar as Zelenskiy visits Gulf: includes the exchange of expertise in countering missiles and unmanned aerial systems — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

BBC: No Kings protesters across the US rally against Donald Trump — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

— A White House spokesperson called the protests "Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions" and said the only people who care "are the reporters who are paid to cover them". In Los Angeles, two people were arrested for assaulting federal law enforcement, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In a statement to X, it said that two officers had been hit with the cement blocks and were receiving medical care, after a group of what it described as "1,000 rioters" surrounded the Roybal Federal Building and began throwing things at DHS agents. Elsewhere in the city, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said "multiple arrests" had been made after protesters did not obey dispersal orders in an area near a federal prison. Reuters reports that arrests were also made in Dallas, after "minor scuffles erupted" when counter-protesters blocked streets and disrupted the No Kings march.

Ukraine steps up attacks on Russian oil industry as Kremlin reaps export windfall — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

— CNN: Ukrainian drones have struck several Russian refineries and export terminals in the last week, accelerating a campaign that began last summer to target one of Russia’s biggest revenue sources. The Ukrainian military claims to have carried out 10 major attacks this month on Russian energy infrastructure — some of the strikes deep inside Russia.

Missing Cuba-bound aid boats arrive safely in Havana after disappearing en route leading to days of searching for the missing vessels — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

— DW: In the Cuban capital, the crew of nine which included a four-year-old boy along with American, French and German citizens appeared to be in good health and spirits. The boats had left Isla Mujeres, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, last week and were bound for Havana, carrying the final shipments of Nuestra America Convoy.

— On Saturday, the Mexican Navy said the sailboats were spotted by a maritime surveillance aircraft some 80 nautical miles (roughly 148 kilometers) northwest of Cuba. The Reuters news agency cited them as saying they were slowed by unfavorable weather conditions. A Mexican ship escorted them to Havana to ensure their safe arrival in the Cuban capital, the Mexican Navy said.

Christian Science Monitor: The US will pay a French company nearly $1 billion to give up wind farm plans: it appears to be a novel use of taxpayer funds — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

— The U.S. government will pay TotalEnergies, a French power generation company, $928 million to scuttle its plans to build two wind farms off the coasts of New Jersey and North Carolina. Together, the projects could have powered some 1.7 million homes.

Hedge fund veteran Guy Spier shutters Swiss-based Aquamarine Fund after 28 years as stockpicking edge erodes — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

— The 60-year-old manager, who famously won a charity lunch with Buffett in 2007, noted that the meticulous research once used to beat the market is being rapidly commoditized by artificial intelligence. Aquamarine Fund has delivered a lifetime return of 1,186% since 1997, outpacing the S&P 500, but it has underperformed the benchmark for eight consecutive years. The hedge fund manager argued that the "Buffett-and-Munger" philosophy of identifying overlooked, high-quality companies at reasonable prices has become increasingly difficult as data becomes universally accessible.

— "In the most candid section of [his annual] letter [to his partners in February] , Spier recounted how a grand mal seizure while driving back from a skiing day in Klosters with his children led to the discovery of a brain tumor. Surgery at Hirslanden Hospital in Zurich revealed grade 4 glioblastoma. Despite early and aggressive treatment under the Stupp protocol, the cancer recurred in September 2025, fundamentally changing Spier's priorities." — (LINK)

— The fund will transition to a family office structure, with Spier continuing to manage his own capital alongside his existing team.

Nestle says 12 tonnes of KitKat chocolate stolen in Europe: 'a truck transporting 413,793 units of its new chocolate range has been stolen during transit' — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

DHS says Corey Lewandowski left department following Noem's ouster — 28 March 2026 (LINK)

— Last week, Democratic lawmakers launched an inquiry into Lewandowski and whether he sought personal payments from contractors while working at DHS.

Friday, 27 March 2026

Russia to ban gasoline exports from Apr. 1 to prioritize local supply — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

Iran says it will 'facilitate and expedite' humanitarian aid through Strait of Hormuz — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

Daily Beast: Intel leak blows up Trump's big war boasts: the Trump administration can only confirm that it has destroyed about one-third of Iran's missile arsenal and drone capacity, despite the president saying Iran has "very few rockets left" — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

What we know on Day 28 of the US and Israel's war with Iran: Israel vowed Friday to "escalate" its offensive in Iran. A fresh wave of overnight strikes killed dozens in Iran, according to the country's authorities and state media, while strikes hit southern Lebanon and southern Beirut early Friday, Lebanon's National News Agency reported — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

US appeals court overturns $16 billion judgment against Argentina for 2012 energy company nationalization — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

— Plaintiffs were able to sue YPF in the U.S. because the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Chinese ships were turned back when trying to exit Strait of Hormuz — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

New UN Task Force aims to ease trade flow through Strait of Hormuz restoring the flow of fertilizer and humanitarian goods — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

'The gravest crime against humanity': the UN vote on transatlantic slave trade — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

— The resolution was adopted by 123 votes to three, while 52 countries abstained, including the United Kingdom and EU member states. The resolution, backed by African and Caribbean countries, is not legally binding but analysts say it sends a powerful message. Almaz Teffera, a senior researcher on racism at Human Rights Watch, told the BBC it could increase the chance of progress on discussions about reparations, or some form of compensation.

Al Jazeera: Can Saudi, UAE, Iraq pipelines help oil escape Strait of Hormuz? No. Their combined capacity is only about 9 million bpd, compared with about 20 million bpd for the Strait — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

— On Thursday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim thanked Tehran for granting Malaysian vessels "early clearance" through the strait. Meanwhile, about 2,000 ships flying the flags of other nations are stuck on either side of the strait.

UN human rights chief calls on US to conclude probe into Iran school strike and publish findings — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

— The attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh school on the first day of the war last month consisted of two missile strikes in quick succession that killed at least 168 people, including about 110 children, Iranian officials have said. US media have reported that American military investigators believe its own forces were likely responsible for hitting the school unintentionally.

Epstein victims to get $72.5M from Bank of America settlement — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

— In 2023, JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay Epstein victims $290 million and separately to pay the U.S. Virgin Islands $75 million. Deutsche Bank, that same year, agreed to pay victims $75 million.

FBI director's personal email, photos and documents leaked by Iran-linked hackers: Handala Hack Team published more than 300 emails from Kash Patel’s inbox between 2010 and 2019 — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

US: Florida Democrat found guilty of House ethics violations over using federal disaster funds as campaign contributions — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

Trump signs order to pay TSA employees amid shutdown standoff: other DHS staff continue to go without pay — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

Trump's Treasury drops sanctions on two Putin henchmen — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

Russia labels 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' star a 'foreign agent' — (LINK)

Russian court bans Oscar and BAFTA-winning documentary 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

Bitcoin fell to $68,507 on Friday morning, down 3.2% over the past 24 hours and 2.7% on the week. Ether dropped 4.6% to $2,050. Solana fell 5.3% to $85.93. XRP lost 2.8% to $1.36, now down 6.5% on the week. BNB slid 2.3% to $626. Dogecoin dropped 2.8% to $0.091. Tron was the only major in the green at 1.2% daily and 2.4% weekly — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

Golf star Tiger Woods charged with DUI after rollover crash in Florida: Sheriff — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

Best media analysis tools for data-driven PR campaigns in 2026 — 27 March 2026 (LINK)

Thursday, 26 March 2026

Trump delays Strait of Hormuz deadline until 6 April as Wall Street has biggest loss of war — 26 March 2026 (LINK)

Ukrainian drone strike forces one of Russia’s largest oil refineries to close — 26 March 2026 (LINK)

President Trump's signature is set to appear on U.S. currency — a first for a sitting president — 26 March 2026 (LINK)

— Traditionally, U.S. bills carry the signatures of the Treasury secretary and treasurer — not the president.

California renames César Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day following sexual abuse allegations — 26 March 2026 (LINK)

Senate Republican Susan Collins busted violating stock trading disclosure law she helped pass — 26 March 2026 (LINK)

Meta stock slides as court held the Facebook parent company liable for harm to young people — 26 March 2026 (LINK)

Hegseth reportedly cuts two Black men and two women from military promotion list to general — 26 March 2026 (LINK)

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

Google's TurboQuant AI-compression algorithm can reduce LLM memory usage by 6x: makes AI models more efficient but doesn't reduce output quality like other methods — 25 March 2026 (LINK)

Five Guys CEO gave away his $1.5m bonus to his to employees in 1500 US stores after a special promo went horribly wrong: 'I felt I screwed up': 40th anniversary special proved more popular than expected, overwhelming locations, crashing the app and forcing some restaurants to close early as supplies ran short — 25 March 2026 (LINK) Guardian — (LINK)

Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Iranian source says US initiated 'outreach' to end war, as Israel and Tehran continue to trade strikes — 24 March 2026 (LINK)

Japan moves to release oil stockpiles as energy crisis deepens — 24 March 2026 (LINK)

Russian attack on World Heritage sites in Lviv: damage to 17th-century church and archive building — 24 March 2026 (LINK)

Bitcoin, ether, solana prices move higher as Gulf allies inch toward joining Iran war — 24 March 2026 (LINK)

Scientists cloned a mouse, then cloned the clone for 58 successive generations. Over 1,200 clones later, the experiment stopped because the mice kept dying immediately after being born, despite displaying no outward physical abnormalities, suggesting there's a hard limit to duplicating mammals — 24 March 2026 (LINK) Nature — (LINK)

A truck transported a container with a payload of 92 antiprotons within the CERN complex near Geneva for the first time: opens the door to new possibilities for the study of the world's most expensive, volatile and rare substance — 24 March 2026 (LINK)

Monday, 23 March 2026

WMO State of Climate report confirms 2015-2025 hottest 11 years on record: Earth's energy imbalance is highest in sixty five-year record — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

Trump says ultimatum for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz postponed amid negotiations: stock markets swing and oil prices fall after Trump postpones strikes on Iran power plants — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

CNN: Day 24 of the US and Israel's war with Iran: Iran has denied any dialogue with Washington, several Iranian state-affiliated outlets reported shortly after Trump's announcement, citing the Foreign Ministry. They dismissed Trump's claim as an attempt to lower energy prices and buy time for his military plans — (LINK)

FoxNews: Trump postpones strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure amid 'constructive' talks to end war — (LINK)

China limits fuel price hike to cushion impact of rising oil prices — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

As the war entered its fourth week, the International Energy Agency said the reduction of global oil supply from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was larger than the loss caused by the oil shocks of the 1970s — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

More than 40 Middle East energy assets in 9 countries 'severely damaged,' IEA chief says — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

Jewish volunteer ambulances set on fire outside London synagogue in antisemitic attack — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

ICE officers deployed to 14 airports as TSA callouts worsen — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

Colombian military plane crash kills at least 66, wounds dozens — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

Jury orders Bill Cosby to pay $19m to ex-waitress after finding he abused her in 1972 — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

Seven jailed in Ireland over international cocaine smuggling operation — 23 March 2026 (LINK)

All 5 fundamental units of life's genetic code were just discovered in an asteroid sample — 23 March 2026 (LINK)