Independent News & People Network Desk of News

No timeframe for ending US war against Iran, says Pete Hegseth

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-19T15:02:07+00:00

US defense secretary suggests Thursday will be ‘largest strike package yet … death and destruction from above’ Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, said on Thursday there is no “timeframe” for ending the US war against Iran and did not deny reports that the Pentagon could seek an extra $200bn in taxpayer funding.The military US-Israeli offensive began three weeks ago and continues to widen. Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to “massively blow up” the world’s biggest gasfield after Israeli strikes on the Iranian

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Why Iran’s Attack on an Energy Hub in Qatar Spooked Investors

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-03-19T15:01:33+00:00

Lasting damage to Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export plant, would have big consequences for the global energy market.

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Sex garden to ‘break taboos’ at Chelsea flower show as gnome ban ends

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-19T15:00:53+00:00

Lovehoney sponsors Aphrodite-themed ‘pleasure garden’ full of flowers associated with love and sexIt is one of the most prestigious events of the UK social calendar, but the great and good attending Chelsea flower show may be in for a shock this year as the Royal Horticultural Society unveils a sex-themed garden sponsored by a company that sells vibrators.Lovehoney, a sex toy company, is sponsoring an Aphrodite-themed “pleasure garden” full of flowers and plants associated with love and sex.Chelsea flower show will be held at the Royal Hospital Gardens from 19-23 May. Continue reading...

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‘She didn’t want that pain’: Paola Marra’s brother despairs of Lords block on assisted dying bill

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-19T15:00:53+00:00

On second anniversary of his sister ending her life at Dignitas, Tony Marra will protest outside parliament with other campaignersTwo years after Paola Marra, on the eve of her death, appealed to politicians to change the law on assisted dying, the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill is stuck in the House of Lords. For her brother, the second anniversary of her death will be spent protesting outside parliament.Marra died aged 53 on 20 March 2024. She documented her solo journey from north London to Dignitas in Switzerland in photographs and a short film by the photographer Rankin, release

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Nigel Farage stops accepting Cameo requests after revelations about his use of platform

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-19T15:00:21+00:00

Reform leader ‘unavailable’ on service after Guardian investigation unearths clips of him repeating extremist slogansFarage videos reveal support for rioter, neo-Nazi event and far-right slogansNigel Farage has stopped using the personalised video platform Cameo revealations the Reform UK leader has filmed a string of highly questionable paid-for clips.On Thursday morning, Farage’s page on the website said he was “unavailable”, with a sources saying he had ended his use of the platform over security concerns. Continue reading...

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HDFC Bank closes 5.32% lower as chairman resigns

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-19T14:57:15+00:00

It opened at ₹770, the day’s low and a new 52-week low, breaking the previous range floor

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Affaire Epstein : d’anciennes mannequins demandent à la justice française d’enquêter sur l’ancien dirigeant d’Elite Model en Europe, Gérald Marie

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-03-19T14:47:23+00:00

Les quinze femmes, de nationalités britannique, néerlandaise, américaine et suédoise, affirment avoir des preuves des liens de l’ex-dirigeant de la prestigieuse agence de mannequins avec le criminel sexuel américain Jeffrey Epstein.

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Senate committee approves Trump nominee Markwayne Mullin to lead DHS, heads for full vote – live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-19T14:27:56+00:00

Republican senator Rand Paul voted against advancing Mullin but Democratic senator John Fetterman supported the nominationSign up for the Breaking US News US emailAnswering a reporter’s question on Iran’s missile capabilities, considering the country has managed to strike numerous states in the Gulf, Gen Dan Caine, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, said Tehran retains “some capability” to attack American assets.“They came into this fight with a lot of weapons.,” he said, adding that the US continues to be “as aggressive and assertive” in striking Iran. Continue reading...

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Senate committee advances Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead homeland security

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-19T14:27:44+00:00

Republican senator’s nomination will now be considered by full Senate, where the GOP appears poised to confirm himSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA key Senate committee on Thursday advanced Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a near party line vote, a day after the Republican senator faced questions at his confirmation hearing about his approach to Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and accusations of encouraging violence.Nearly all eight Republicans on the Senate committee on homeland securi

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No breakthrough on Hungary’s veto of EU’s €90bn loan to Ukraine – Europe live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-19T14:27:15+00:00

EU leaders fail to convince Viktor Orbán, shortly facing Hungarian elections, to drop his opposition to aid Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz also called for de-escalation in the Middle East, welcoming what he said were signals by US president Donald Trump that combat action in Iran could come to an end, which could allow Europe to contribute to securing peace in the region.“I am expressly grateful that the US president sent a signal in this regard last night that he is prepared to bring the fighting to an end,” he told reporters ahead of an EU summit in Brussels in comments reported by Reut

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У Мінрозвитку громад та територій повідомили, хто відповідає за міст Патона в Києві

Source: UNIAN (General) · Published: 2026-03-19T14:26:00+00:00

Утримання, відновлення та безпечне функціонування мосту Патона – відповідальність міста Києва. Про це повідомили, посилаючись на законодавчу базу, у Міністерстві розвитку громад та територій України.

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Quello che ho visto a Gaza

Source: Repubblica Homepage · Published: 2026-03-19T14:20:27+00:00

Per un anno e mezzo Loris De Filippi ha lavorato nella Striscia per l’Unicef. Prima di terminare la sua missione ha deciso di scrivere ciò che non è stato mai raccontato. Perché tutti sappiano che cosa succede qui. Intervista

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IBM to help boost quantum ecosystem at Amaravati

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-03-19T14:18:48+00:00

To bring an advanced quantum computer; work with start-ups to build applications; boost quantum skilling

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Товари під загрозою: іранська криза обмежить український імпорт та експорт

Source: UNIAN (General) · Published: 2026-03-19T14:17:00+00:00

Не лише споживачі, але й українські експортери відчують "відлуння" війни у Ірані – аграрії та металурги вже рахують збитки, а пересічні українці – чекають на нові розцінки в магазинах. Адже ціни на все будуть зростати.

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EN DIRECT, guerre en Iran : six pays, dont la France et le Royaume-Uni, se disent « prêts à contribuer » à sécuriser le détroit d’Ormuz

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-03-19T14:14:33+00:00

Outre Paris et Londres, l’Allemagne, l’Italie, les Pays-Bas et le Japon ont condamné jeudi les attaques iraniennes des infrastructures énergétiques dans le Golfe et se sont dits « prêts à contribuer aux efforts nécessaires pour garantir la sécurité du passage dans le détroit », selon un communiqué conjoint.

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EN DIRECT, guerre en Iran : la France, le Royaume-Uni, et quatre autres pays se disent « prêts à contribuer » à sécuriser le détroit d’Ormuz

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-03-19T14:14:33+00:00

Outre Paris et Londres, l’Allemagne, l’Italie, les Pays-Bas et le Japon ont condamné jeudi les attaques iraniennes des infrastructures énergétiques dans le Golfe et se sont dits « prêts à contribuer aux efforts nécessaires pour garantir la sécurité du passage dans le détroit », selon un communiqué conjoint.

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EN DIRECT, guerre en Iran : la France, le Royaume-Uni et quatre autres pays se disent « prêts à contribuer » à sécuriser le détroit d’Ormuz

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-03-19T14:14:33+00:00

Outre Paris et Londres, l’Allemagne, l’Italie, les Pays-Bas et le Japon ont condamné jeudi les attaques iraniennes des infrastructures énergétiques dans le Golfe et se sont dits « prêts à contribuer aux efforts nécessaires pour garantir la sécurité du passage dans le détroit », selon un communiqué conjoint.

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