Indian transparency activists, journalists set for court fight over Modi’s privacy law

A change to the RTI law means it now excludes any “personal information” from release.

Iran points at tit for tat retaliation if power plants targeted, statement

DUBAI, March 23 - Iran will retaliate to an attack on its electricity sector by targeting Israel's power plants as well as power plants supplying U.S. bases with electricity in regional countries, a statement by the Revolutionary Guards on Monday said.

Planet trapped record heat in 2025: UN

The amount of heat trapped by the Earth reached record levels in 2025, with the consequences of such warming feared to last for thousands of years, the UN warned Monday. The 11 hottest years ever recorded were all between 2015 and 2025, the United Nations' WMO weather and

Global economy under 'major threat' from Strait of Hormuz crisis: IEA chief

The global economy is under "major threat" from the energy crisis caused by the Middle East war and "no country will be immune" to its effects, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday. Speaking at the National Press Club in Australia's capital, Birol compared

Indonesia eyes $6 billion in savings to brace itself for Middle East war impacts

South-east Asia’s largest economy is also mulling fuel-saving measures.

Africa: Over 25 Liberians Complete EU-Funded Scope Africa Port Security Training

[New Dawn] Monrovia, Liberia - March 23, 2026 -- More than 25 Liberians have completed a specialized maritime and port security training under the European Union-funded SCOPE Africa Program.

France local elections: Paris stays left as far-right makes mixed gains

The results offered an early snapshot of France’s political balance before 2027. Here are the main takeaways.

BTS agency shares drop after comeback show turnout falls short

The concert was attended by an estimated 104,000 fans, much lower than the expected 260,000.

Africa: African Michelin-Starred Chef Mory Sacko Designs Meals for Air France

[RFI] Air France has asked Michelin-starred chef Mory Sacko to create dishes to be served to its first and business class passengers on flights from Abidjan, followed by Dakar and Nairobi. Of Malian and Senegalese origin, Sacko becomes the first "Air France signature chef" on

Africa: Water Supply High On Africans' Policy Agenda Amid Persistent Access and Service Gaps

[Afrobarometer] Majority of citizens say they suffered shortage of clean water during the past year.

Africa: A New Era of Austerity? On Listening to African Scholars

[African Arguments] African Affairs, the journal of the Royal African Society that sponsors this blog, has recently published an article on the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic response and a 'new era of austerity in Africa'.

US should practice what it preaches on Vietnam religious freedom

On March 19, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the latest annual report from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) as “unobjective, inaccurate and based on information with ill intent.” The response followed a well-established pattern –

Vietnam’s Communist Party meets, with new state leaders set to be nominated

Party chief To Lam is widely expected to be nominated as state president.

Fruit prices in Malaysia set to rise as fertiliser supplies dry up amid Middle East war

The ripple effects of the conflict are expected to push fruit prices in Malaysia up by 20% or more.

Majority of Japanese oppose sending warships to the Middle East: Polls

The polls also showed that approval ratings for PM Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet remain elevated.

Japan tries to head off toilet paper panic amid Iran war fears

Social media posts suggest people are starting to stockpile daily necessities.

UN issues new climate warning as El Niño looms

The Earth's climate is further out of balance than at any time in recorded history, the UN's weather agency says.

Earth being ‘pushed beyond its limits’ as energy imbalance reaches record high

State of the Climate report finds Earth’s energy has moved dangerously out of balance, with oceans absorbing vast majority of trapped heat Our home planet is struggling with a record energy imbalance, which is warming oceans to unprecedented levels, making weather more extreme

Neutrality can speed up and stabilize collective decisions, new study shows

Trying to persuade people to abandon deeply held views often backfires, leaving groups entrenched and unable to move forward. A new study by researchers at the University of Bath in the UK proposes a strategy that is both surprising and more effective: encourage neutrality.

Ruth’s Chris gets schooled by Chili’s in viral dress code feud online

Chili's snarky remark quickly went viral, with more than 1 million views and prompting X users to weigh in on the two chains’ very different approaches.

Pork, chicken and egg prices jump in Thailand despite price freeze pledge

Consumers said the prices they are paying are higher than those announced by the authorities.

Scientists discover surprising brain trigger behind high blood pressure

Scientists have uncovered a surprising brain-based trigger for high blood pressure, tracing it to a small region in the brainstem that normally controls breathing. This area, which kicks in during forceful exhalations like coughing, laughing, or exercise, also appears to

How the Iran war energy crisis threatens to devastate Mideast stability

The siege of Hormuz is pushing already-fragile Iraq, Lebanon and Syria deeper into chaos while straining economies in Jordan and Egypt. Launching a war in such an energy-sensitive region without a plan is a dangerous strategic gamble with severe possible consequences

World’s first quantum battery could enable ultra fast charging

Scientists in Australia have demonstrated a prototype quantum battery that could revolutionize energy storage. By harnessing quantum effects, it can absorb energy in a rapid “super absorption” event, enabling much faster charging than conventional batteries. Even more

Asia stocks slide as US and Iran threaten to intensify war

The International Energy Agency chief said the war could lead to the world's worst energy crisis in decades.

Asian stocks tumble as Trump gives Iran 48-hour ultimatum

Stocks tumbled Monday and oil prices rose after Donald Trump and Iranian leaders traded threats over the key Strait of Hormuz, while Israel said the Middle East war could last several more weeks. With the conflict now in its fourth week and showing no sign of ending, the head

‘The Comeback’ Comes Back! Creators Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King Break Down the Season 3 Premiere and Why This Is the End

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for “Valerie Gets a New Chapter,” the Season 3 premiere of “The Comeback,” now streaming on HBO Max. “The Comeback,” as created by Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King, was originally designed to be an ongoing series, a comedy that

Truck convoy brings cattle feed relief to north-west Queensland after months of flooding – video

A convoy of seven trucks and one semi-trailer carrying cattle feed has brought much-needed relief to flood-affected graziers in north-west Queensland. Many in the area have not been able to leave their farms for weeks as flood waters forced road closures. Tens of thousands of

Scientists twisted a mysterious superconductor and got a shocking result

A decades-old superconducting mystery just took a surprising turn. Strontium ruthenate, a material that conducts electricity with zero resistance at low temperatures, has long puzzled scientists with hints of an exotic, complex superconducting state. But by carefully twisting

North Korea's Kim Jong Un reappointed as president of state affairs

Trump says ICE agents will help at airports ‘for as long as it takes’

President Trump on Sunday said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will help with airport security for “as long as it takes" as passengers complain of longer wait times amid the partial government shutdown. Earlier Sunday, White House border czar Tom Homan said ICE

Iran threatens to destroy regional energy infrastructure after Trump's Hormuz ultimatum

Iran warned on Sunday that it will treat energy and oil infrastructure across the Middle East as “legitimate targets” if the United States attacks its power plants, responding to President Donald Trump's ultimatum issued late Saturday.

New Blood boss Dave Oshry 'quadruples down' on supporting GOG after worrying about its future, committing to sales, demos, one-click mods, plus day-and-date releases alongside Steam

Oshry had expressed concern about GOG's long-term health in a recent interview.

Pakistan tells cricket fans to stay home as fuel shortages bite

The Pakistan Super League, from March 26 to May 3, has shifted to a watch-from-home model.

Middle East war to dominate Houston's 'Davos of Energy'

Energy industry leaders will converge on Texas this week for an annual conference dominated by oil and gas supply disruptions from the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. More than 10,000 attendees are expected for CERAWeek, the spring gathering in

This floating time crystal breaks Newton’s third law of motion

Scientists have created a new kind of time crystal using sound waves to levitate tiny beads in mid-air. These particles interact in a one-sided, unbalanced way, breaking the usual rules of motion and creating a steady, repeating rhythm. The system is surprisingly simple yet

Lula and Peña agree to accelerate Itaipú treaty review

The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Paraguay, Santiago Peña, agreed on Sunday in Campo Grande to intensify negotiations over Annex C of the Itaipú treaty, the instrument that governs the financial terms and energy sales of the binational hydroelectric dam,

Kast announces "difficult decisions" and rules out populist responses to oil crisis

Chilean President José Antonio Kast said he found the country "worse than he imagined" and warned his government will take unpopular adjustment measures, in an interview published on Saturday by the newspaper La Tercera, the first he has given since taking office on March 11.

Chile: Kast announces “difficult decisions” and rules out populist responses to oil crisis

Chilean President José Antonio Kast said he found the country “worse than he imagined” and warned his government will take unpopular adjustment measures, in an interview published on Saturday by the newspaper La Tercera, the first he has given since taking office on March 11.

Heatwave in Malaysia sends durian trees blooming earlier than expected

Orchard owner Tan Chee Keat, 35, said about 20 per cent of his trees had begun fruiting much earlier than usual.

Iran threatens to retaliate against Gulf energy and water after Trump ultimatum

By Maayan Lubell, Alexander Cornwell and Idrees Ali TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - Iran warned it would strike energy and water infrastructure across the Gulf if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to attack its electricity grid,

Luna slams Graham for comments about US troops

Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R) on Sunday said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was acting as if U.S. soldiers were “expendable cattle” following his comments about the possibility of losing servicemembers in battle. “I am deeply upset at the lack of respect for life Senator

Paraguay and Germany seek to deepen trade ties under EU-Mercosur agreement

Relations between Paraguay and Germany are at a positive juncture, with prospects for growth in trade, investment and tourism, according to German Deputy Ambassador in Asunción Jörg Herrera, in an interview with state broadcaster Paraguay TV.

Now you can play Resident Evil Requiem in VR if that's a thing you want for some reason

You and Gideon have fun.

Sturgill Simpson’s Johnny Blue Skies Album Debuts at No. 3 on Billboard 200, Despite Only Being Released on Vinyl, CD and Cassette

Sturgill Simpson was not about to go gently down the stream with his latest album. “Mutiny After Midnight,” attributed to Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds, has only been released in physical formats — i.e. vinyl, compact discs and cassettes — but that did not stop it from

Five new Steam games you probably missed (March 23, 2026)

Sorting through every new game on Steam so you don't have to.

Life, Loss, and the Wisdom of Rivers

"It’s a mercy that time runs in one direction only, that we see the past but darkly and the future not at all."