Analysis-'Made in EU' auto rules risk backlash from friends and rivals

By Nick Carey, Gilles Guillaume and Julia Payne

FILE PHOTO: Ford workers hold a staff meeting at their plant in Cologne

LONDON/PARIS/BRUSSELS, March 3 (Reuters) - The European Union is treading a fine line with plans to introduce 'Made in EU' rules for the bloc's auto industry, seeking to revive local manufacturing without damaging relations with major trading partners.

The plans, due on Wednesday as part of a ‌drive to boost EU industry more broadly, are complicated by divisions between member states, with France taking a more protectionist line and Germany more worried about potential ‌retaliation.

They also face pushback from automakers that rely on non-EU supplies or, like Ford and Jaguar Land Rover, have major operations in nearby non-EU countries that are also lobbying Brussels. Britain, Turkey and Morocco are interested in 'Made in ​Europe' rules - but only if they are not shut out.

The stakes are high.

"If we don't do this, there will be massive relocations," Christophe Perillat, the CEO of French auto supplier Valeo said on Friday. "I've never seen an industry go and come back."

RETALIATION FEARS

Under the latest leaked version of the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, an electric vehicle would need 70% of the cost of its parts to be manufactured in the bloc, excluding the battery, to qualify for EU subsidies.

The draft also requires minimum EU-based content in the battery pack, although excluding cells acknowledges China's dominance of the global ‌battery cell supply chain.

Europe's auto sector has long been under pressure, ⁠a squeeze intensified by the arrival of Chinese rivals rolling out cheaper, tech-heavy EVs.

French small suppliers association Fiev says its members shed half their workforce between 2007 and 2024, and president Jean-Louis Pech warns employment could halve again by the end of the decade without action.

Antoine Doutriaux, CEO ⁠of Plastivaloire, which makes plastic interior parts and closed a French plant last year, says not mandating local content "would be very dangerous for European industry". He says Chinese rivals pay 30% less for raw materials and "don't play by the same rules".

But Germany's automakers sell more than a quarter of their vehicles in China, the world's largest auto market, and fear strict local-content rules could trigger a trade war.

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"Further ​measures ​perceived as protectionist, which may include local content requirements, carry the risk of backlash from other countries," ​said Karoline Kampermann, head of economic policy, foreign trade, SMEs and taxation ‌at German car lobby group VDA.

China rejects suggestions its automakers benefit from unfair subsidies and has retaliated against other EU measures it considers protectionist, such as EU import tariffs on Chinese-made EVs.

'WALKING ON EGGSHELLS'

Global auto supply chains are so complex, and so integrated, that determining local-content levels in individual models is no easy feat.

French firm A2MAC1, which strips down cars for automakers to assess competitors' products, reviewed two European-made EVs for Reuters – Volkswagen's ID.3 and Renault's Renault 5 – based on cost of parts by country.

It found the ID.3 sourced 86% of its content by value from the EU and just 7% from China, not including raw materials. It easily qualifies as made in the EU.

Renault says up to 80% of suppliers for the Renault ‌5 are within 300 km (186 miles) of its northern France assembly site. But A2MAC1 found EU-based parts accounted ​for only 51% of the car's cost, with China supplying 41%. Excluding the battery – the component most dependent ​on China – lifts EU content to about 76%. On that basis the Renault 5 ​would meet the threshold.

A further challenge is that, under the Commission's proposal, only parts from EU members plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - the European ‌Economic Area - would count as local content, though it would consider parts ​from "trusted partners" and take World Trade Organization agreements ​into account.

Ford's European supply chain, for example, depends heavily on Britain and Turkey, and European president Jim Baumbick argues that "excluding them would weaken production inside the EU itself".

Turkey is a low-cost manufacturing hub for Toyota, Stellantis, Hyundai and Renault. Cengiz Eroldu, president of Turkish automaker association OSD, says exclusion "poses a great risk to our country's investment ​environment" and that inclusion "is a strategic necessity".

But including Turkey could open ‌a loophole for Chinese automakers to build plants there, saving on energy and labour while still qualifying for EU subsidies, said Chris Heron, secretary general of ​lobby group E-Mobility.

"It really is like walking on eggshells," he said.

(Reporting By Nick Carey in London, Gilles Guillaume in Paris and Julia Payne in Brussels. Additional ​reporting by Christoph Steitz in Frankfurt and Can Sezer in Istanbul. Editing by Mark Potter)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 03, 2026

Analysis-'Made in EU' auto rules risk backlash from friends and rivals

By Nick Carey, Gilles Guillaume and Julia Payne FILE PHOTO: Ford workers hold a staff meeting at their plant i...

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Severe Weather, Including Tornado Threat, Increases In Plains From Texas To Midwest Wednesday Into The Weekend

Severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, are increasingly likely in parts of the Plains and Midwest starting Wednesday and could last into the weekend, if not early next week from Texas to parts of the upper Midwest.

Almost on cue as March arrived, we're setting up a rather stuck weather pattern that will bring multiple days in a row of at least some severe thunderstorms in the nation's mid-section.

(MORE:Beware Of March For Tornadoes, Especially Recently)

Severe Threat Timing

While some thunderstorms may rumble across the mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys during the day, the main threat for a few severe thunderstorms is Tuesday night from parts of the Texas Panhandle and northern Oklahoma into southern Kansas and Missouri. Large hail is the main concern with these nighttime storms.

Cities: Oklahoma City, Wichita

Severe thunderstorms are most possible in the afternoon and evening from parts of northern Texas into the Ozarks. Large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds and a few tornadoes are possible.

More isolated strong to severe storms are possible as far north as the mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.

Cities:Dallas, Ft. Smith

Severe thunderstorms are most possible in the afternoon and evening along a feature known as adrylinein parts of western Texas into western Oklahoma and perhaps southwestern Kansas. Hail larger than golf balls, damaging thunderstorm winds and a few tornadoes are possible.

More isolated strong to severe storms are possible as far north as the Missouri Valley of Nebraska and Iowa.

Cities:Lubbock, Amarillo, Wichita Falls

Friday's severe weather threat may be more widespread, with more numeroussupercellthunderstorms capable of tornadoes, hail and destructive winds possible from parts of Texas to Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri in the afternoon and evening.

At least some severe thunderstorms with hail are possible as far north as southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

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Cities:Dallas, Tulsa, Kansas City

This Weekend And Beyond

The story doesn't end, there.

We can't rule out some lingering strong to severe storms Saturday from the Ohio Valley and Appalachians to southeast Texas.

And a few isolated strong to severe storms are possible in parts of the South Sunday along and near a sagging and stalling frontal boundary.

Additional strong to severe storms are expected early next week as a strong cold front slices into the central U.S. as a strong upper-level low pressure system over northern Mexico finally gets kicked into the Plains.

Check back with us at weather.com for updates to this forecast.

(MAPS:7-Day US Forecast)

How Much Rain?

Rainfall is expected to be heavy at times with these storms.

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued level 1 out of 4 risks for heavy rainfall for Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday across parts of the Southern Plains and the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.

Some areas in this zone may pick up over 3 inches of rain, where multiple rounds of thunderstorms occur. That could lead to flash flooding, particularly in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains of eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas and southwest Missouri.

Soaking A Drought

These parts of the country are very much in need of rainfall. Drought persists across much of the South, and the reason is actually fairly straightforward.

We have been under a La Niña this winter, which causes some significant impacts to our weather.

(MORE:La Niña Is Fading)

A La Niña occurs when trade winds moving from east to west across the Equator over the Pacific Ocean ramp up, pushing warm water to the Western Pacific. This forces cooler water to rise to the surface across the eastern region of the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

This simple change has a drastic impact on the weather around the world and is amplified in the winter.

In a typical La Niña winter, the jet stream is typically forced further north, leaving the South warmer and drier. That pattern sends most of the precipitation and cooler temperatures to the north.

Rob Shackelfordis a meteorologist and climate scientist at weather.com. He received his undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Georgia studying meteorology and experimenting with alternative hurricane forecasting tools.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 03, 2026

Severe Weather, Including Tornado Threat, Increases In Plains From Texas To Midwest Wednesday Into The Weekend

Severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, are increasingly likely in parts of the Plains and Midwest starting Wednesday ...

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Death toll rises to 3 as officials probe whether Austin mass shooting motivated by Iran strikes

Early Sunday morning, just as bars along Austin's bustling Sixth Street were winding down for the night, a barrage of gunfire tore through the popular entertainment district in the heart of Texas' capital, leaving three people dead and more than a dozen others injured.

Ryder Harrington, 19, and Savitha Shan, 21, were killed in the shooting, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference Monday. Police initially provided different ages.

A third person, 30-year-old Jorge Pederson, has also died as a result of the shooting, the police department said Monday, after authorities said one person injured was expected to be taken off life support.

While the motive for the deadly onslaught has not been confirmed, authorities are investigating whether the suspect - who was fatally shot by police - was inspired by this weekend'sUS and Israeli strikeson Iran, multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the case said.

Investigators are also digging into the man's criminal history and his mental health records, sources said.

Here's what we know:

Was Iran a factor?

The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, had not previously been on the radar of Austin police or the FBI, officials said Monday.

The suspect was wearing a shirt with an Iranian flag design on it underneath a hoodie printed with "Property of Allah," a law enforcement official told CNN.

Investigators are looking for connections, pouring through "thousands of hours of video" and interviewing witnesses, Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio division, said at a news conference Monday.

The investigation also involves sorting through a high volume of both digital and physical evidence, so "we don't want to speculate or make any guesses at this stage of the investigation as to what that motive ultimately was," he said.

A bevy of law enforcement officers arrived Sunday at a home connected to the suspect in Pflugerville, a suburb of Austin,CNN affiliate KEYEreported. Investigators hauled boxes of items from the home and examined a car in the driveway, KEYE reported.

Authorities searching the home were likely investigating computers and phones to determine if the suspect read any propaganda or left any writings indicating what he intended to do, an official told CNN.

After the initial scene was secured, police called federal officials to "address concerns of potential terrorism," Austin's police chief said Monday. Local police will rely on their federal partners to investigate whether, for instance, his clothing helped point to a motive, Davis added.

Who is the suspect?

Diagne entered the United States on March 13, 2000, on a B‑2 tourist visa, a Department of Homeland Security official told CNN. In June 2006, he adjusted his status to lawful permanent resident based on marriage to a US citizen. He naturalized on April 5, 2013.

Diagne was originally from Senegal, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told CNN.

Upon arriving in the US, Diagne initially settled in New York and eventually made his way to Texas, although it's not clear when, the official said. He had multiple addresses in the Lone Star State, the official added.

In 2022, he was arrested in Texas on a charge of collision with vehicle damage, a misdemeanor offense, according to the DHS official.

Authorities are also reviewing past mental health encounters the suspect had while living in Texas, multiple law enforcement officials have said.

CNN has reached out to the Austin Police Department and the FBI's San Antonio division for more details.

How did the shooting unfold?

The violence erupted along a stretch of Sixth Street, known for its dense concentration of bars and live music venues. The vibrant corridor is a short drive from the University of Texas at Austin, which has 55,000 students.

Authorities first received a call about a man shooting from a large SUV outside Buford's Backyard Beer Garden, Davis said.

"At one point, he put his flashers on, rolled down his window, and began using a pistol, shooting out of his car windows, striking patrons of the bar that were on the patio and that were in front of the bar," Davis said.

The suspect then drove west on Sixth Street, parked his SUV and got out with a rifle, the police chief said. He then began shooting at people walking by, she said.

Authorities reached the suspect in less than a minute, Davis said.

"Our suspect was coming toward East Austin or East Sixth Street, officers were coming toward him, and at the intersection, he was shot and he was killed," Davis said.

Video from the scene shows law enforcement officers running toward the scene as people duck for cover. The deadly attack is among 56 mass shootings in the US so far this year, according to theGun Violence Archive.

Nathan Comeaux, a University of Texas senior, was celebrating two friends' 21st birthdays at Buford's when he left around 1:50 a.m. to grab some pizza from a food truck across the street, he told CNN. Shortly before 2 a.m., he heard the sound of 15 to 20 gunshots.

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"If either me or my friends had left a few minutes later, we would have been on the patio when the shooter was attacking Buford's," the 22-year-old recalled Monday.

After the initial barrage of gunfire ended, "I took out my phone to capture what was going on," Comeaux said. "I saw the suspect engage with the cops down the street from me. And then he was taken out by the police."

Who are the victims?

Harrington, the 19-year-old killed, was a former Texas Tech student, the university said in a statement toCNN affiliate KCBD.

His older brother, Reed Harrington, penned an warm tribute onFacebook, writing "I love you more than you will ever know. No matter how old you get, or how much taller than me you are, you will always be my little brother."

"Watching the man he had become, and seeing all the lives he touched, leaves me certain that this world was robbed of a great future," he said in the post, alongside photos of his brother.

Beta Theta PisaidHarrington was a member of its chapter at Texas Tech, joining the fraternity in the fall of 2024.

It described Harrington as someone who "had a rare ability to truly enjoy life to make people laugh, to make moments feel bigger, and to make ordinary days unforgettable," according to a Facebook post. "He made the world around him better simply by being in it." The fraternity held a candlelight vigil Monday night.

"We are saddened to learn of the tragic incident in Austin that resulted in the loss of life," Texas Tech said in a statement,KCBDreported. "Harrington had previously been enrolled at Texas Tech University, most recently during the Fall 2025 semester, but was not enrolled this semester. Our thoughts are with Ryder's family, friends, and all those affected by this devastating situation."

Shan, the 21-year-old killed, was a student at the University of Texas at Austin, according to her LinkedIn account.

UT Austin President Jim Davis confirmed a UT student was "among those who lost their lives," without naming Shan directly, but described her as the "child of loving parents" and "a loyal friend to many."

"It is devastating, and I know all of us are grieved by this horrible news and we will remember her," Davis wrote in a statement Monday.

A number of other UT students were hurt in the shooting, he said, and some of the injuries are "very serious."

While the shootings happened off campus, students "will see increased patrols this week across the University and in the West Campus neighborhood," Davis warned.

A community vigil will be held Tuesday evening on the UT campus, the university's Students Demand Action chapter said.

Pederson, the 30-year-old who authorities said died Monday, was described as a "beloved Minnesotan fighter" by mixed martial arts promoter Med City Fighting Championships.

"He was a fantastic fighter. One of our favorite people to interact with, throughout the years of our existence. Our condolences to all of his friends and family. It was an honor to have known him," MCFC said in aFacebookpost.

Authorities have not identified those injured and two people remain in critical condition, according to police.

Buford's Backyard Beer Garden expressed its condolences to the victims, writingon InstagramMonday: "These were young people with their whole lives ahead of them, and our thoughts and prayers are with every family impacted."

Paramedics in the area responded quickly, according to officials, as authorities praised emergency services for their quick response.

"We had more than 20 EMS resources that responded to the scene. We had all critical patients off the scene within 24 minutes, and all patients off the scene within 47 minutes," said Robert Luckritz, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services chief.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson offered his condolences to the victims and their families and praised first responders for their fearless, rapid response, saying "They definitely saved lives."

Gov.Greg Abbottcondemned the attack and directed the state's Department of Public Safety to increase patrols and law enforcement personnel in the Sixth Street area on weekends.

Abbott also warned the state would respond aggressively to anyone "using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans." He ordered the Texas Military Department to activate patrols to protect communities and critical infrastructure, including energy facilities and ports.

"This act of violence will not define us," he said, "nor will it shake the resolve of Texans."

This story has been updated.

CNN's Sarah Dewberry, Alisha Ebrahimji, Chris Boyette, Holmes Lybrand, John Miller and Karina Tsui contributed to this report

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 03, 2026

Death toll rises to 3 as officials probe whether Austin mass shooting motivated by Iran strikes

Early Sunday morning, just as bars along Austin's bustling Sixth Street were winding down for the night, a barrage of...

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Turkey eyes lifting U.S. CAATSA sanctions before U.S. midterms

ANKARA, March 3 (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said work was underway with the United States to ‌lift sanctions imposed on Ankara before the U.S. midterm ‌elections in November, but added Israel was opposed to the potential move.

In 2020, ​Washington imposed CAATSA sanctions on fellow NATO member Turkey over its acquisition of Russian S-400 systems. It also removed Ankara from the F-35 fighter jet programme, a move Turkey called unjust and illegal.

The ‌sides are seeking a ⁠workaround to lift sanctions and allow Ankara to buy the jets. Little progress has been made ⁠even though U.S. President Donald Trump has good ties with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, raising hopes in Turkey that a solution can ​be found ​this year.

Asked during a Ramadan ​fast-breaking dinner on Tuesday ‌with members of Turkish media if Israel - which Turkey has criticised fiercely over its assault on Gaza - opposed the U.S. lifting the sanctions, Fidan said Israel did not want regional countries to obtain certain capabilities.

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"That is the mode they are in now. ‌Let's see, these battles will continue. ​Everyone will play the cards in their ​hands somehow," he said, ​according to a transcript of his comments on ‌Wednesday.

"Work is underway to obtain ​a result on ​CAATSA before the midterms. We have taken the political steps. We'll see," Fidan added.

Fidan's comments come as the United ​States and Israel ‌are at war with Iran, Turkey's neighbour. Ankara has condemned ​the U.S. and Israeli offensive against Tehran.

(Reporting by Tuvan ​Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan Spicer )

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 03, 2026

Turkey eyes lifting U.S. CAATSA sanctions before U.S. midterms

ANKARA, March 3 (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said work was underway with the United States to ‌lift s...

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FACT FOCUS: Misrepresented images spread after US and Israel strike Iran

As the U.S. and Israel continued tostrike Iranon Monday following amajor attackover the weekend that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, misrepresented images related to the war spread widely online.

They presented years-old footage as current, falsely claimed that U.S. military vehicles had been destroyed and erroneously claimed to show casualties of the war.

Here's a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: An image shows Khamenei's body under a pile of rubble.

THE FACTS: This is false. It was created with AI. Google's Gemini appdetected SynthID, a digital watermarking tool for identifying content that has been generated or altered with AI, in the image. This means it was created or edited, either entirely or in part, by Google's AI models.

In the image, a body whose face is blurred is trapped beneath rubble while four men wearing hard hats and safety vests shine flashlights onto the area and work on clearing the debris. Small fires burn in the background.

Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday that Khamenei had been killed in Saturday's attack by the U.S. and Israel. A photo of his body has not been publicly released.

CLAIM: Images show the USS Abraham Lincoln sinking or otherwise damaged after an Iranian ballistic missile strike.

THE FACTS: U.S. Central Command said inan X postthat the warship, one of two aircraft carriers the U.S. militaryhas deployedto the region, "was not hit" and that "the missiles didn't even come close." The post, which went up after Iranian leadership claimed the ship was struck in the attack, adds that it is continuing to launch aircraft.

Many images said to show the aftermath of a strike on the USS Abraham Lincoln are years-old. For example, an image of a ship sinking into the ocean with a helicopter hovering above has appeared onlinesince at least 2021. A video of a ship engulfed in flames and billowing smoke appeared in a Facebook postfrom June 2025.

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CLAIM: A video shows the downing of a U.S. fighter jet in Iran.

THE FACTS: This is false. It is from a military-themedvideo game.

The video spreading online shows a missile speeding toward a fighter jet, which performs dramatic evasive maneuvers. There is a loud bang at the end of the video and the aircraft heads toward the ground.

But a YouTube channel dedicated to military video game simulationsoriginally postedthe clip in November 2025. A caption on the clip states that "all scenes are captured in-game for entertainment and learning purposes only." The aircraft is identified as an F-4 Phantom II.

Three U.S. fighter jets, all of them F-15E Strike Eagles, weremistakenly downedin Kuwait — not Iran — by friendly Kuwaiti fire on Monday, according to the U.S. military. Iranian state television claimed that Iran had targeted one of the planes that crashed.

CLAIM: A video shows U.S. soldiers returning home in coffins from the Iran war.

THE FACTS: This is false. It shows the dignifiedtransferof U.S. Army servicemembers who died in Iraq in Operation New Dawn. The transfer took place on June 8, 2011, at Dover Air Force Base.

Theoriginal videowas posted to YouTube by a photographer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran who fought in the Vietnam War.

There are a number of indications that the YouTube video matches the clip currently spreading online. For example, about one minute and 57 seconds into the video, a plane taxis in the background. Additionally, the front of a blue vehicle is visible throughout most of the video in the bottom right corner.

Associated Press writer Abril Mulato in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Find AP Fact Checks here:https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 03, 2026

FACT FOCUS: Misrepresented images spread after US and Israel strike Iran

As the U.S. and Israel continued tostrike Iranon Monday following amajor attackover the weekend that killed Iranian Supre...

Read More

Intelligence assessment warns of Iranian attacks on US following Khamenei's death

By Jana Winter

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - Iran and its proxies could target the U.S. with attacks in response to the Saturday killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by ‌Israeli and U.S. strikes, according to a U.S. intelligence assessment reviewed by Reuters.

The February 28 ‌threat assessment produced by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security said Iran and its proxies "probably" pose ​a threat of targeted attacks on the United States, although a large-scale physical attack was unlikely.

The report added that in the short term the main concern was that Iran-aligned "hacktivists" would conduct low-level cyber attacks against U.S. networks, such as website defacements and distributed denial-of-service attacks.

"Although a large-scale physical attack is unlikely, Iran and its ‌proxies probably pose a persistent threat ⁠of targeted attacks in the Homeland, and will almost certainly escalate retaliatory actions — or calls to action - if reports of the Ayatollah's death are confirmed," the DHS ⁠report reviewed by Reuters said.

In response to a request for comment, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement: "I am in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely ​monitor and ​thwart any potential threats to the homeland."

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Iran on Sunday ​confirmed reports of Khamenei's death in a ‌strike on Saturday that was initially announced by Israel and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The DHS assessment also said Iran would probably continue its attacks against U.S. and allied targets in the Middle East and would almost certainly blame senior U.S. government officials for any protests that begin because of Trump's statement calling for regime change.

The U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran launched on Saturday widened on Monday as Israel ‌attacked Lebanon in response to strikes by Hezbollah and ​Tehran kept up its missile and drone attacks on Gulf states ​that host U.S. military bases.

On Monday, authorities ​investigating a shooting on Sunday at a bar in Austin, Texas, that killed ‌at least two people said it was too ​early to say if the ​gunman was motivated by the war in Iran.

The body of the gunman, who was killed by police, was seen in a photo obtained by Reuters wearing a shirt with an Iranian ​flag and "IRAN" spelled out in green, ‌white and red across the front. He was also wearing a sweatshirt that said "Property of ​Allah" on it, a U.S. law enforcement official told Reuters.

(Reporting by Jana Winter and ​David Brunnstrom; Editing by Don Durfee and Christian Schmollinger)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 03, 2026

Intelligence assessment warns of Iranian attacks on US following Khamenei's death

By Jana Winter WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - Iran and its proxies could target the U.S. with attacks in resp...

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Closed airports, empty skies: What travelers impacted by Middle East air disruptions need to know

Thewar with Irancontinues to cause aviation chaos in the Middle East and beyond as some of the world's busiest airports attempt to manage the fallout of airspace closures, with only a limited number of flights now departing the region.

The US is warning its citizens to leave the region now "using available commercial travel," but a wide corridor of airspace over the Middle East remained closed on Tuesday as countries neighboring Iran restricted flights in and out of the region.

Some flights have left airports in US-friendly Persian Gulf states, including United Arab Emirates cities Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but the situation remains fluid and travelers are being urged to monitor government alert systems and check with their airlines.

Fresh strikes by Iran on Saudi Arabia late Monday have added to a complicated picture emerging for travelers stranded in the region.

Here's what travelers need to know.

Is Middle East airspace still closed?

The skies over the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan all remained nearly empty Tuesday morning, as shown on maps by flight tracking website Flightradar24.

The Middle East is home to several major airlines, including Emirates and Etihad in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and Qatar Airways, based in the Qatari capital, Doha. And the impact stretches far beyond the Middle East. All three of those cities are major global hubs, with millions of passengers transiting through them each year.

Emirates, which had suspended all flights to and from its bases, resumed alimited numberof flights Monday night. Fly Dubai also resumed limited flights on Monday.

Several commercial flights are scheduled to take off on Tuesday morning, according to the Dubai Airports website. However, travelers are advised not to proceed to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by their airline

All of Etihad's scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 2 p.m. UAE time March 4. The airline said "some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals."

Qatar Airways flights to and from Doha's Hamad International Airport remainsuspendeddue to the closure of Qatari airspace. In a post on its website, the airline says a further update will be provided before 9 a.m. Tuesday local time.

What are governments advising?

The State Department has urged US citizens to "DEPART NOW" from countries throughout the Middle East "due to serious safety risks," however the limited number of flights poses a challenge for those trying to exit the region.

A post on X from the State Department's top official for consular affairs called on US citizens to depart "using available commercial travel" from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

US citizens affected by the situation are also encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which allows the State Department to contact US citizens in case of emergency.

On Tuesday morning, Canada's government posted a notice on X advising travelers to "leave the United Arab Emirates as soon as you can secure a flight option. The airspace is subject to intermittent, temporary and partial closures." It has also advised Canadians to avoid all travel to Bahrain, Iraq, Israel and Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and the UAE and to avoid nonessential travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The United Kingdom's government says British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and UAE should register their presence to receive direct updates from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The Australian government has opened an emergency portal for citizens in Israel, Iran, Qatar and the UAE, and warned its citizens overseas to be prepared for serious travel disruptions in the days ahead due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Australians have been told to avoid most destinations in the Middle East. This includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the UAE and Yemen.

They should also reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

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How many flights have been canceled?

More than 1,000 flights had already been canceled as of Tuesday morning, adding to the thousands of international flights canceled on Sunday and Monday, according to data fromFlightAware.com.

Outside the region, other airlines continue to reroute or cancel flights that had been scheduled to fly near the conflict zone.

German airlineLufthansa, for instance, has suspended flights to and from Dubai until March 4. It has also suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, Dammam, and Tehran until March 8.

What should you do if your flight is canceled?

Travelers are advised to check with their airline or travel agent as soon as possible for information on rebooking and refunds, though passengers are reporting difficulties getting assistance because of high caller volumes.

Policies vary according to the airline.

According to theEmirates website, affected travelers can book an alternate flight for travel on or before March 20, or request a refund.

Guests holdingEtihadtickets issued on or before February 28, 2026, with original travel dates up to March 7, may rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights up to March 18.

Policies are similar outside the region.British Airways, for instance, says customers flying between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai or Tel Aviv up to March 15 can change their flight date free of charge to travel on or before March 29, while those traveling up to March 8 may also request a full refund.

What is being done for stranded passengers?

With widespread airspace closures, there's little many governments can do to assist their citizens to return home.

The Netherlands government said Monday it's currently impossible to repatriate Dutch citizens due to the closed airspace, according to local media.

"If you want to bring people home, you want to do that safely. At the moment, those options are not available," said Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen, according to multiple media outlets.

Several of the special flights permitted to fly out of Dubai Monday night headed for cities in India. However, at least one flight departing India for Dubai was forced to turn around early Tuesday morning.

The Middle East has a strong contingent of foreign workers, many from Asia – and many of them were just as eager to leave the region as short-term visitors.

The Philippines government said it was working on potential exit points for Filipinos domestic workers, including the possible use of military assets and private sectors for departures by land, sea or air.

On March 2, Indonesia's government said more than 6,000 of its citizens had departed Saudi Arabia since February 28, but tens of thousands more remain stranded.

As for expenses, the United Arab Emirates will cover the food and accommodation costs of the tens of thousands of travelers stranded in the country during the conflict, according to state media.

The UAE's Department of Culture and Tourism sent a notice to hotels requesting them to extend the stay of passengers who are unable to travel "for reasons beyond their control," reported the National.

CNN's Hilary Whiteman, Rhea Mogul, Laura Sharman and Trista Kurniawan contributed to this report.

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byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 03, 2026

Closed airports, empty skies: What travelers impacted by Middle East air disruptions need to know

Thewar with Irancontinues to cause aviation chaos in the Middle East and beyond as some of the world's busiest airpor...

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Trump says 'sad to see' US-UK relationship is not what it was

LONDON, March 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said it was "sad to see" the relationship with Britain was "not what it was" after ‌Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially held off giving military support to ‌the strikes against Iran.

Trump said the likes of France had been more supportive and said ​he had never expected to see the once "most solid of all" relationships change in this way.

"It's very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was," Trump told the Sun newspaper on Tuesday, his second interview ‌to a British newspaper in ⁠as many days where he criticised the British leader.

Starmer said late on Sunday that he would allow the U.S. to ⁠use British military bases for defensive strikes after they were not used in the initial attack on Iran.

Trump said the U.S. did not need Britain to ​wage war ​in the Middle East but added: "It's not ​going to matter, but (Starmer) should ‌have helped… he should have.

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"I mean, France has been great. They've all been great. The UK has been much different from others."

Senior British minister Darren Jones told Times Radio in response to the latest Trump comment's that the U.S.-UK relationship remained crucial but said the country had learnt lessons from its ‌involvement in the 2003 Iraq war.

"One of ​the lessons of Iraq was that it's ​better to be involved in ​these situations when you are aligned with international partners, and ‌as I say, with a clear ​legal basis in the ​plan," he said.

Starmer said in parliament on Monday: "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial ​strikes, but it is ‌my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest. That ​is what I have done, and I stand by it."

(Reporting by ​Sarah Young; writing by Kate Holton)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 03, 2026

Trump says 'sad to see' US-UK relationship is not what it was

LONDON, March 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said it was "sad to see" the relationship with Britain ...

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GOP congressman enters Texas primary fighting to keep his job after allegations of an affair

Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas sought to fend off a primary challenge Tuesday that comes as he facescalls to resignfollowing allegations of an affair with an aide, who later died after setting herself on fire.

Texas Congressman Staffer

Gonzales, who has said he won't step down, entered the nation's first big primary of 2026 under pressure from fellow House Republicans after published reports last month that alleged to show explicit text messages between him and the former staffer.

The three-term congressman was locked in a rematch against GOP challenger Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and YouTube gun-rights influencer who narrowly lost to Gonzalesby less than 400 votesin the 2024 primary.

President Donald Trump endorsed Gonzales in December, and last week, Gonzales was among the Texas Republicans in attendancefor Trump's visitalong the Texas coast.

"There will be opportunities for all of the details and facts to come out," Gonzales said last week in Washington. "What you've seen is not all the facts."

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Gonzales, a father of six, first won his seat in 2020 after retiring from a 20-year career in the U.S. Navy that included time in Iraq and Afghanistan.

His win in 2020 beat back Democratic expectations in the sprawling district along the U.S. border with Mexico that stretches from western San Antonio to El Paso. His victory was fueled in part by Trump's surprisingly strong performance in the heavily Hispanic Rio Grande Valley.

Gonzales said in a recent social media post that he was being blackmailed and then suggested in another post that he is the target of "coordinated political attacks."

TheSan Antonio Express-Newsreported that it had obtained text messages in which the former staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, wrote to a colleague that she had an affair with Gonzales.

The Associated Press has not independently obtained copies of the messages. An attorney for Adrian Aviles, Santos-Aviles' husband, has said the husband found out about the affair before his wife's death.

Santos-Aviles, 35, died in September 2025 after setting herself on fire in the backyard of her Uvalde home. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office later ruled her death a suicide.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 02, 2026

GOP congressman enters Texas primary fighting to keep his job after allegations of an affair

Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas sought to fend off a primary challenge Tuesday that comes as he facescalls to...

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Minnesota sues to block Trump administration's withholding of Medicaid funds

Minnesota on Monday sued President Donald Trump's administration in an attempt to stop it from withholding $243 million in Medicaid spending, warning it may have to cut health care for low-income families if the funding is held back.

The lawsuit asked a U.S. court in Minneapolis to issue a temporary restraining order to block the withholding for Medicaid, which is the health care safety net for low-income Americans.

The move came after Vice President JD Vance said last week theadministration would "temporarily halt"some Medicaid funding to Minnesotaover fraud concerns, as part of what he described as an aggressivecrackdown on misuse of public funds.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office has a strong track record of fighting Medicaid fraud and has won more than 300 convictions and $80 million in judgments and restitutions during his time in office.

"Trump's attempts to look like he's fighting fraud only punish the people and families who most need the high-quality, affordable healthcare that all Minnesotans deserve," Ellison said in a statement. "As long as I am attorney general, I will do everything in my power to defend our tax dollars, both from fraudsters and from the Trump administration's cruelty."

The lawsuit names the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as Dr. Mehmet Oz, in his official capacity as CMS administrator, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his official capacity as HHS secretary.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which includes CMS, didn't immediately return messages seeking comment late Monday.

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The threatened cuts amount to roughly 7% of Minnesota's quarterly Medicaid funding, Ellison's office said in a news release. Minnesota could be required to significantly cut health care services for low-income families or other government services if the cuts take effect, it said.

Medicaid, which is known as Medical Assistance in Minnesota, provides health insurance to 1.2 million Minnesotans who would otherwise be unable to afford it. A family of four may qualify for Medical Assistance with an income at or under $42,759, the attorney general's office said.

The lawsuit said the administration violated due process procedures because it was taking hundreds of millions of dollars without proving Minnesota's noncompliance with Medicaid regulations through discovery and an evidentiary hearing.

It alleged the administration failed to provide Minnesota with details about its decision, in violation of federal law. It cited legal precedents, including one that said Congress may impose conditions on states' acceptance of federal funds, but "'the conditions must be set out unambiguously.'"

Minnesota's complaint further charged the administration violated the Constitution because the withholding imposed retroactive conditions on Minnesota's Medicaid funding.

It said withholding the funds was arbitrary, capricious and part of a pattern of political punishment of Minnesota.

The administration said it would hold off on paying $259.5 million to Minnesota for Medicaid spending in the fourth quarter of 2025. Minnesota's lawsuit challenges the withholding of $243 million of this money.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 02, 2026

Minnesota sues to block Trump administration's withholding of Medicaid funds

Minnesota on Monday sued President Donald Trump's administration in an attempt to stop it from withholding $243 milli...

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Malaysia PM tells parliament of plot to destabilise government

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Reuters) - Malaysia's prime minister said a suspect in an alleged plot to topple the government had engaged an international public relations firm ‌to launch a coordinated attack aimed at undermining national institutions before the next election.

Police ‌said last week they were investigating an alleged conspiracy to "sabotage national stability", under laws against undermining parliamentary democracy.

In an ​address to parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim provided further details of the alleged plot, saying the suspect had engaged the PR firm as part of a response to being the subject of a large-scale graft investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Neither Anwar, nor the police, have ‌identified the individual suspect or the ⁠PR firm.

Anwar said the PR strategy, which began in August 2024 and included engaging media agencies, banks, and lawmakers, was to run until the ⁠next general election, due by early 2028.

"Their strategy... was to contact all foreign media with a strategy of undermining the government's efforts, especially the MACC's," Anwar told parliament, citing documents obtained by authorities.

"And ​then to ​use their power and contacts in foreign countries ​to shape a narrative questioning the ‌authority of the Malaysian government and organise a movement through the Malaysian parliament. That is what worries us."

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Anwar said documents identified media firm Bloomberg as one of the agencies targeted by the alleged conspiracy.

A Bloomberg spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Anwar's remarks.

A special government committee is conducting a separate investigation into allegations in a Bloomberg report ‌last month that head of MACC, Azam Baki, may ​have breached shareholding laws.

Azam has said he is willing ​to be investigated as he had "nothing ​to hide" and all his financial declarations have been made according to ‌public service laws.

Lawmakers, including a key party ​in Anwar's ruling coalition, ​have called for a royal inquiry into another Bloomberg article alleging broader misconduct at the anti-graft agency.

The MACC has said the allegations were "baseless", and that they were an attempt ​to discredit its investigations and ‌enforcement actions within the corporate sector.

On Tuesday, Anwar said a royal inquiry into ​the matter was "premature" as the special committee was expected to complete its probe ​this week.

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Neil Fullick)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 02, 2026

Malaysia PM tells parliament of plot to destabilise government

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Reuters) - Malaysia's prime minister said a suspect in an alleged plot to topple the governmen...

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Photos of revelers celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in India's Mathura

MATHURA, India (AP) —Holi celebrationsin the north Indian town of Mathura filled the air with music, dance, and clouds of colored powder.

India Spring Festival Photo Gallery

Hundreds of men and women gathered at a temple in the north Indian town of Mathura, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna, one of the most revered Hindu gods with whom this festival is closely associated, to celebrate the festival marking the arrival of spring.

Their faces smeared with colored powder and their wet clothes hanging to their bodies, they swayed to the rhythm of beating music. Holi colors represent spring's bounty and the festival is seen as a time to forget old grudges and renew friendships.

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On a large stage behind the revelers, folk actors recreated scenes from Krishna's life and his playful flirting with his consort Radha.

The dark-skinned god is believed to have smeared color on Radha's fair cheeks to make her look more like him, setting off a tradition in which people smear colors on each other's cheeks to mark the festival of colors. The divine couple is a favorite subject of the traditional Indian miniature paintings.

Actors then gear up to play another Radha-Krishna episode to the delight of the merry crowd.

In Mathura and other places linked to Krishna's life, the celebrations last for several days, but March 4 marks the main day of Holi and festivities spread across the country.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

March 02, 2026

Photos of revelers celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in India's Mathura

MATHURA, India (AP) —Holi celebrationsin the north Indian town of Mathura filled the air with music, dance, and clouds of...

Read More