Saturday, March 14, 2026

World

US Strikes Iran's Kharg Island, Threatens Oil Infrastructure

US forces have bombed military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, the nerve centre of Tehran's oil exports, with Trump warning the island's energy infrastructure could be next if Iran interferes with Strait of Hormuz shipping. The strikes mark a significant escalation in the US-Israeli military campaign, with Tehran residents reporting relentless bombing and Wall Street banks forecasting oil well above $100 a barrel. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pledged to intensify the campaign, and critics warn the US entered the war without a clear plan for victory — echoing the early chaos of Iraq in 2003.

Economy

Judge Blocks DOJ Subpoenas Against Fed Chair Powell

A federal judge has thrown out Justice Department subpoenas targeting Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, ruling the Trump administration produced "essentially zero evidence" to justify them and was instead attempting to "harass and pressure" the central bank into cutting interest rates. The ruling is a significant pushback against White House efforts to undermine Fed independence — a norm that markets have long relied on. Powell himself had flagged the probe in January as a direct threat to the Fed's autonomy.

Tech

Meta Plans Layoffs Affecting Over 20% of Staff

Meta is preparing sweeping job cuts that could affect more than 20% of its workforce, as the company looks to offset surging costs from its artificial intelligence infrastructure bets while banking on AI to reduce its need for human workers. No date or final figure has been set, but three sources confirmed the plans to Reuters. The cuts would be among the largest in the company's history, dwarfing the 11,000 roles it shed in 2022.

Health

New Guidelines Recommend Lipoprotein(a) Cholesterol Test

Medical guidelines now recommend a cholesterol test most people have never taken — a lipoprotein(a) screening that can reveal lifetime cardiovascular risk that standard tests miss entirely. The updated guidance also calls for earlier treatment of high cholesterol, representing a meaningful shift in how doctors approach heart disease prevention. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally, making the change potentially significant for millions of patients.

World

Sudan Drone Strike on Market Kills 11 Civilians

A drone strike on a market in Sudan has killed at least 11 people, the latest in a wave of aerial attacks that have left more than 200 civilians dead in recent days, hitting markets, schools and hospitals. The strikes underscore how Sudan's civil war has entered a brutal new phase of air warfare with near-total disregard for civilian infrastructure. The conflict, now entering its third year, has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.