Lead: Since the war that began on Feb. 28, 2026, Yousef Pezeshkian — a 44-year-old physics Ph.D., college professor and adviser to President Masoud Pezeshkian — has posted a daily Telegram diary mixing personal detail and political observation. His entries, read by reporters including Farnaz Fassihi, describe a leadership under pressure as multiple senior figures … Read more
March 19, 2026 22:24 UTC — Updated March 20, 2026 11:29 UTC Markets in Asia were poised to open steadier after U.S. equities pared earlier declines following a renewed bout of risk-off trading sparked by turmoil in the Middle East. S&P 500 futures were down about 0.4% as the benchmark moved toward a fourth consecutive … Read more
Lead: Health chiefs in Kent are responding to an outbreak of meningitis that has reached 29 confirmed cases as students line up for vaccination. The family of sixth-form pupil Juliette — who died after falling ill following a school day — issued a public statement on the morning of the response, published at 08:30 GMT. … Read more
On 20 March 2026, Israel carried out airstrikes on Tehran while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly suggested a need for a “ground component” in operations against Iran. At the same time, multiple reports — not yet independently verified — say the US is weighing occupying or blockading Kharg Island to reopen the strait of Hormuz. … Read more
Lead: NASA has begun rolling its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion crew capsule back out to launch pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, ahead of a planned crewed lunar flyby with an earliest window on 1 April 2026. Engineers started the move at 8pm local time and expect the transfer to … Read more
Recent analyses suggest brief sessions of isometric holds—four two-minute efforts totalling 14 minutes, done three times weekly—can meaningfully lower blood pressure and build strength. A 2023 meta-analysis pooling nearly 16,000 participants found isometric routines reduced systolic/diastolic pressure by about 8.24/4.00 mmHg, outperforming common aerobic programmes in the same review. Researchers and exercise scientists argue the … Read more
Lead: On March 19, 2026 in Greenville, S.C., 11th-seeded VCU erased a 19-point second-half deficit to beat North Carolina 82-78 in overtime, marking its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2016. Sophomore guard Terrence Hill Jr. scored 34 points, including a step-back 3 in the final minute of overtime that put the Rams ahead. The Tar … Read more
Lead: On 20 March 2026 Israel launched a fresh round of strikes on targets in Iran, days after President Donald Trump urged it not to repeat attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the assault on the South Pars gas field was carried out solely by Israel and praised co‑operation with … Read more
Lead NASA’s 322-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket began a slow roll back to Launch Complex 39B from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center late March 20, 2026, setting up an Artemis 2 launch attempt no earlier than April 1, 2026. The stack — SLS atop the 400-foot Mobile Launcher and carried by … Read more
On 20 March 2026, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan issued a joint statement signaling readiness to support efforts to improve security in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been disrupted amid the broader war involving Iran. The announcement condemned recent attacks on commercial vessels and said the countries were prepared to … Read more
Lead On March 19, 2026, U.S. prosecutors announced criminal charges against Yih‑Shyan “Wally” Liaw, a co‑founder of Super Micro Computer Inc., accusing him and two associates of diverting billions of dollars’ worth of Nvidia‑powered servers to China. The charges mark the most prominent U.S. enforcement action to date alleging illegal export of restricted artificial‑intelligence hardware. … Read more
Lead: In Greenville, S.C., on March 19, 2026, Siena coach Gerry McNamara — hobbling on a knee scooter because of a badly damaged ankle — rallied his MAAC champion Saints to push No. 1 seed Duke to the brink in a first‑round NCAA Tournament game. Siena built an early lead and carried a double‑figure edge … Read more
Lead: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were confronted by vocal protesters during an Eid al-Fitr visit to Lakemba Mosque in Sydney overnight Thursday. Worshippers shouted, booed and called the leaders ‘genocide supporters’ amid anger over the Gaza war and Canberra’s recent ban on Hizb ut-Tahrir. Security removed at least … Read more
Lead: In Miami on March 19, 2026, the Los Angeles Lakers overcame travel fatigue and injuries to beat the Miami Heat 134-126, handing the Lakers their season-best eighth straight victory. Luka Dončić poured in a season-high 60 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter, while LeBron James, in his 1,611th regular-season appearance, posted a 19-point, … Read more
Lead: On March 19, 2026, at the White House, President Trump said he did not plan to deploy U.S. ground forces to the conflict with Iran but left room for future changes. His remarks came amid an intensifying U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iranian targets and a Pentagon request for roughly $200 billion to sustain extended operations. … Read more
