Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Next says Middle East conflict could add £15m to costs and push up prices

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-26T08:18:43+00:00

Clothing and homeware retailer working on assumption that war could last three monthsBusiness live – latest updatesNext has warned that the war in the Middle East will add £15m to its costs on the assumption it will last three months, adding that prices will have to go up if the conflict persists beyond that.The UK clothing and homeware retailer said it was currently offsetting the additional costs on fuel and air freight with savings elsewhere and it did not expect any affect on profits for the year ahead. Continue reading...

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Vinci to buy Indian toll concessions portfolio in $1.6 billion deal

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-26T08:17:37+00:00

Vinci says ​portfolio ‌includes nine concessions for almost 700 kilometres of highway ‌sections in key ​areas of India’s road network, ⁠including a section of the corridor linking ‌the cities of Kolkata and Chennai

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Bondi terror attack took place amid global spike in foiled IS-inspired plots, researchers find

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-26T08:15:38+00:00

Australian counterterrorism experts observe December shooting came amid years of messaging from terror group urging followers to act ‘on their own initiative’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Bondi beach terror attack occurred amid an international spike of anti-western plots in December last year that appeared to be “inspired or instigated” by Islamic State, a new report has found, with many of them targeting holiday events such as Christmas markets.In research published by the West Point Combating Terrorism Center in its publication Sentinel on Thursday, Australi

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Men bailed over suspected arson attack on Jewish ambulance service in London

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-26T08:15:28+00:00

Two UK nationals released on bail while Met continues investigation into incident in Golders Green Two men arrested in connection with a suspected arson attack on four ambulances operated by a Jewish charity in north London have been released on bail.The men, aged 47 and 45, who are both UK nationals, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after the incident in Golders Green. On Thursday the Metropolitan police said the pair had been bailed until April while the investigation continues. Continue reading...

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ICICI Bank projects India’s FY27 growth at 6.9% amid energy supply strain

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-26T08:13:56+00:00

An ICICI Bank report stated that the economic impact will likely remain concentrated in March and April, with a gradual easing of supply constraints anticipated in the following months

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Fears net zero is ‘next Brexit’ as oil crisis fuels political climate divide

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-26T08:00:31+00:00

Rising energy bills give Reform and Tories opening to attack net zero while government hesitant to make case for clean energyCould net zero become “the next Brexit”? That is the fear stalking climate advocates as the oil crisis caused by the war on Iran starts to bite.A powerful coalition of the well-funded Reform party, led by Nigel Farage, the Conservative party, some business interests, and the UK’s right-wing media, are engaged in an onslaught against the longstanding target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Continue reading...

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Iran, US harden their positions as Tehran keeps its grip on Strait of Hormuz

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-26T07:59:00+00:00

Iran is instituting a “de facto toll booth' regime”, industry experts say, with some ships paying in Chinese yuan to pass through the strait, where 20 per cent of all traded oil and natural gas is transported in peacetime

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Mercosur steps up trade talks with India and United Arab Emirates

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-26T07:56:41+00:00

The talks are part of a broader strategy to deepen Mercosur’s global integration, enhance export opportunities and reduce reliance on traditional markets

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Allianz Jio Reinsurance commences operations

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-26T07:52:47+00:00

The combination of JFSL’s local reach and digital infrastructure with Allianz’s robust underwriting and global reinsurance scale will empower insurers with the capacity and expertise needed to manage risk effectively, the two JV partners said in a statement.

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Iran War Live Updates: Israel Launches New Strikes on Iran

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-03-26T07:50:17+00:00

The United States and Iran have struggled to begin negotiations to end the war, after nearly four weeks of fighting. There were more drone and missile attacks on U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf on Thursday.

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Barclays sees 13–14 million bpd oil supply loss from prolonged Hormuz disruption

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-26T07:42:57+00:00

US President Donald Trump has said Iran is desperate to make a deal to end nearly four weeks of fighting, contradicting the Iranian foreign minister who said his ‌country was reviewing a US proposal but had ​no intention of holding talks to wind down the conflict

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Nayara Energy hikes petrol price by ₹5 per litre, diesel by ₹3

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-26T07:40:36+00:00

Nayara Energy, which operates 6,967 of India’s 102,075 petrol pumps, has decided to pass on part of the increase in input costs to consumers, sources said

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Shanti, il santone in Maserati con adepti in tutto il mondo

Source: Repubblica Homepage · Published: 2026-03-26T07:35:56+00:00

Il maestro spirituale di origini tedesco-indianeè laureato in psicologiae nel 1997 viene iniziato allo sciamanesimo centroamericano

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Here’s the latest.

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-03-26T07:34:35+00:00
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Sydney high school teacher accused of grooming 14-year-old girl and offering money for sexually explicit material

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-26T07:26:18+00:00

Man was teaching at a secondary school for boys when he allegedly targeted the girl – who police say he did not knowGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA high school teacher has been accused of grooming a teenage girl and offering money for her to produce sexually explicit material.Police allege the 29-year-old man targeted a 14-year-old girl not known to him, before she told her parents who alerted authorities. Continue reading...

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Steel ministry seeks intervention for mills facing LPG shortages

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-26T07:24:09+00:00

“We have ‌taken up with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to see within the existing conditions ‌what best can be done,” sources aware of the discussions said

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Dozens of Sydney suburbs urged to reduce water use after major main bursts – as it happened

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-26T07:19:29+00:00

This blog is now closedAuction clearance rate slumps to 57% nationwide as interest rate hikes prompt Australians to sellGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBarnaby Joyce calls for fuel rationing, saying a ‘plan is better than panic’One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce who yesterday called on the government to pull the trigger on the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act, is today calling for the government to start rationing fuel.This is going to ripple through. It’s going to start with a few sort of peculiarities. Isn’t that interesting? I don’t seem to have any eggs today. And then it’s go

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EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : les dernières informations

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-03-26T07:15:31+00:00

L’Ukraine « sait où obtenir les volumes requis si la Hongrie cesse ses livraisons de gaz », a répondu la diplomatie ukrainienne, après les menaces de Viktor Orban sur la suspension des livraisons de gaz.

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