Month: March 2026

Canadian leader also said the US-Israeli attacks on Iran appear to be ‘inconsistent with international law’.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he could not rule out his country’s military participation in the escalating war in the Middle East, after earlier saying that the US-Israeli strikes on Iran were “inconsistent with international law”.

Speaking alongside Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra on Thursday, Carney was asked whether there was a situation in which Canada would get involved.

“One can never categorically rule out participation,” Carney said, noting the question was “hypothetical”.

“We will stand by our allies,” he said, adding that “we will always defend Canadians”.

Carney said earlier that he supported the strikes on Iran “with some regret” as they represented an extreme example of a rupturing world order.

The Canadian prime minister also stressed that his country was not informed in advance of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, in his first remarks since the war was launched on Saturday.

“We were not informed in advance, we were not asked to participate,” Carney told reporters travelling with him in Australia on Wednesday.

“Prima facie, it appears that these actions are inconsistent with international law,” he said.

“The United States and Israel have acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting with allies, including Canada,” he added, according to Australia’s SBS News, while also condemning strikes on civilians in Iran and calling for “all parties … to respect the rules of international engagement”.

Whether the US and Israeli attacks on Iran had broken international law was “a judgement for others to make”, he added.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said on Wednesday that efforts were under way to help more than 2,000 Canadians who have requested assistance from the government to leave the ⁠Middle East region since the war broke out on Saturday.

Anand said about half of all inquiries for help were from Canadians in the United Arab Emirates, more than 230 from Qatar, at least 160 from Lebanon, more than 90 from Israel and 74 from Iran.

Canada’s Foreign Ministry has been instructed to contract charter flights out of the UAE ‌in the coming days, contingent on approval from the UAE government to use its airspace, the minister said.

Commercial ⁠air traffic remains largely absent across much of the region, with major Gulf hubs – including Dubai, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers – largely shut amid the conflict, in the biggest travel disruption since the COVID pandemic.

Repatriation flights chartered by foreign governments, including Britain and France, were due to leave on Wednesday and Thursday, while the UAE opened safe air corridors to allow some citizens to return home.

Under ⁠normal circumstances, thousands of commercial flights would depart the region each day.

SORRY ladies, there is only room for one Mrs Beckham.

Over the past year, queen bee Victoria has seen son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola go all out to prove they have no wish or need to be part of the Beckham family brand.

Instead, they have made moves to cement themselves as a rival power couple with global appeal.

In January’s now infamous Instagram rant aimed at his parents, Brooklyn said of his wedding: “My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance.”

Conjuring an image that has been lampooned across the internet ­endlessly, he added: “She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.”

But considering how much they claim to want to detach themselves from Brooklyn’s famous mum, it’s Nicola’s appearance that has us all doing a double-take.

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By all accounts, she seems to be morphing into a Victoria avatar.

Both women have posed for pics in slinky catsuits.

And on Monday, Nicola shared a topless mirror selfie wearing just a pair of tights while prepping for her upcoming ballerina film Prima — instantly sparking comparisons yet again with her equally slender mother-in-law.

Is it just an uncanny coincidence?

Or is this the US-born 31-year-old’s ­declaration that — though there might be one Mrs Beckham — Mrs Peltz-Beckham has real girl power and is ready to steal the spotlight?

The proof, of course, is in the pouting.

A true copycat

IT’S not just Vic’s red carpet outfits and off-duty dressing that Nicola likes to imitate.

In fact, she looks to her mother-in-law when it comes to fancy dress too.

And she’s took posh appearance in it as a PVC catsuit clad Catwoman for a 2018 Vogue shoot his inspiration for her own sexy feline cosplay.

They say immitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But when it comes to Nic versus Vic, the claws are out.

Met their match

FORGET Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in double denim.

When it comes to twinning nobody did it better than Victoria and David Beckham, who used every photo call in the nineties to share a matching moment.

The double shiny leather to those famous purple wedding day numbers the pair made history.

Nicola and Brooklyn have duly tried to take the mantle, posing in matching pyjamas, Burberry and tuxes.

But they’re double trouble antiques seems somewhat amateur in comparison.

Our advice? More pleather!

Oh, jacket in

NICOLA was once keen to show she had earned her stripes as part of Clan Beckham – channelling Victoria’s vintage Dolce & Gabbana biker jacket.

She was seen wearing the statement piece on a 2024 trip to Paris for Fashion Week – more than two decades after Posh Spice Vic teamed it with chequerboard jeans and a pair of tinted aviators to watch

Manchester United be crowned Premier League Champions in 2001.

Now I’m the mane attraction

ONCE a committed blonde, Nicola made a bold statement when she ditched the bleach in 2022.

Before then, her golden locks were a trademark, drawing comparisons to her own mother, ex-model Claudia Peltz.

But after giving the colour one last hurrah at her wedding in May that year, Nicola embraced her “wifey” era with a brand-new barnet suspiciously like Vic’s brunette, mid-length do.

Dyeing for attention, maybe?

Pipped at the post

WHEN it comes to getting sentimental online, Victoria is a pro.

She often uses Instagram to declare her love for her brood.

In fact, she even did it yesterday to wish Brooklyn a happy birthday, telling him: “I love you so much” – despite the fact her estranged son had blocked his whole family on the site and requested his parents do not interact with him or tag him in posts.

Naturally, Nicola is just as effusive, regularly writing, “I love you baby” and uploading smoochy snaps to her own social media – letting Brooklyn, and the world, know that she can get soppy, too.

A pattern’s emerging here

IF Victoria airs her love on Instagram, David does it on his body.

He has famously tattooed it inch by inch to create a tapestry of tributes to his family, including the words “Posh” and “Victoria”, which are emblazoned on his hands.

Not one to be outdone, Brooklyn is following suit, decking out his body with tattooed tributes to Nicola – and he even has an image of her eyes inked on his neck.

Staring out from behind him, they firmly tell the world: “I’m the only Mrs Beckham that matters”.

I don’t give a ship

LOUNGING on the back of her £16million family yacht with loved ones is among Victoria’s favourite pastimes.

And for a while, Nicola would have happily soaked up the sun beside her as they sailed the Mediterranean.

But since the family schism, Brooklyn and Nicola have been holidaying sans Beckhams – instead, joining Nic’s family last summer on their much bigger superyacht in the south of France.

Yes, they pushed the boat out – leaving choppy waters in their wake.

They’ll make them see red

THERE is nothing Victoria and David love more than a romantic dinner together.

The couple often share snapshots from special anniversaries as they clink glasses next to a super-expensive bottle of wine.

So it is no surprise that Nicola and Brooklyn have added that to the list of “things we can do, too” – recently sharing a stream of photos from their loved-up date nights, each with a glass of pricey red in hand.

They really are sips off the old block.

You’ve got a lot of front

VICTORIA has graced the front page of hundreds of fancy magazines over the years – posing for in excess of 30 international Vogue covers, in addition to the likes of Elle, Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar.

Still, Nicola is clipping at her heels, having graced the cover of Glamour Germany’s Love Issue last year alongside Brooklyn.

She even nabbed her own solo cover for Tatler in 2022, which bore the controversial headline, “The New Mrs Beckham”.

Ouch!

Two months after the anniversary of the devastating Southern California firestorms, several legislators at the state Capitol unveiled a package of bills aimed at preventing wildfires and lessening their harms.

“California has reached a tipping point,” Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) said during a news conference Wednesday. “In the last nine years, we’ve had the eight largest fires in the history of California — we shouldn’t have this problem.”

Two of the most destructive wildfires ever in California erupted on the same day last January. The fires devastated Pacific Palisades and Altadena — destroying homes and businesses, displacing residents and killing 31 people. The Palisades and Eaton fires caused an estimated economic loss of $250 billion.

Among the dozen bills announced Wednesday were:

• Assembly Bill 1934, carried by Bennett, would require the state fire marshal’s Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee to develop a home hardening certification program. (Home hardening involves using ignition-resistant materials to make houses less vulnerable to embers or flames.)
• Senate Bill 1079, from Sen. Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles), would create a Fire Innovation Unit within the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The unit would serve as a hub for wildfire technology research and deployment.
• Assembly Bill 1699, by Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa), would indefinitely extend the Prescribed Fire Liability Program and expand program eligibility.
• Assembly Bill 1891, by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael), would create the Beneficial Fire Capacity Program to expand training and support for community-led beneficial fire programs, including those developed by universities, volunteer fire districts and California Native American tribes.
• Senate Bill 894, from Sen. Benjamin Allen (D-Santa Monica), would state the intent of the Legislature to create the California Wildfire Resilience Program, which would increase access to home hardening modifications.

Allen, who represents the Palisades, said neighborhoods are being turned upside down by wildfires.

“Modern fires are now spreading from wild lands into urban communities,” he said. “The reality that so many people in my district have been living through over this past year has been immensely challenging. Tens of thousands of families remain displaced from their homes.”

State Sen. Benjamin Allen (D-Santa Monica) hosts a discussion with local leaders and residents to mark 100 days since the start of the L.A. County wildfires at Will Rogers State Beach on April 17, 2025, in Los Angeles.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)

Many fire survivors have expressed anger over government action that they believe enabled the disaster and hindered recovery efforts. When asked whether the Legislature had plans to dissect the response, Allen said he would support a robust investigation.

“I think the public is expecting that the state is really looking into this,” he said. “But I know there’s always 10 million different priorities around here — one of my jobs as somebody who represents these folks is to make sure it continues to be on the radar screen.”

Bennett said Californians had a right to expect oversight and transparency but should not “expect perfection” during emergencies.

“I think we are best in California if we develop a culture where everybody says, ‘You do the best you can,’” he said. “I think we would be better off.”

Survivors in Altadena and Pacific Palisades recently marked the anniversary of the disaster with solemn memorial services.

“This year has been the hardest year of our lives,” Joy Chen, executive director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, said during a service in Altadena. “Unimaginable grief. The 31 people who died that day, and the hundreds who have died prematurely since. Homes lost. Jobs lost. Incomes lost. A sense of safety and identity stripped away.”

As the travelling West Ham supporters descended into pandemonium at Craven Cottage, Crysencio Summerville stood still, arms outstretched and sporting an enormous smile.

The Dutchman had every reason to smile as he celebrated his fifth Premier League goal of the season to help the Hammers to a vital 1-0 victory against Fulham.

His 65th-minute strike was enough to continue West Ham’s resurgent quest for survival – on a night when they gained two points on 17th-place Nottingham Forest.

The forward – who struggled for both form and confidence after joining from Leeds United in August 2024 – has now managed more goals in his last 10 appearances for the club (seven), than he did in his first 38 (one).

Speaking after his side’s fourth away win of the campaign, Summerville said: “We have to fight until the end, that’s what we did. I am very pleased to get the three points.

“I am in a good space. I love to play, I am just happy to be back and I try to show it every week.

“We have to keep going now. We took positives from the Liverpool game, we had lots of positives, the fans behind us are very pleased and we are going in the right direction – the only way is up.”

But it’s not only Summerville who is finding his feet as the business end of the season looms – West Ham are, too.

The Hammers have now accumulated 14 of their 28 points this season in their past eight Premier League games.

Such an impressive run for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side means that if they defeat Manchester City when they return to Premier League action on 14 March, they will be out of the relegation zone for the first time since December.

March 4 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s prosecution service is facing criticism from legal experts after abandoning appeals in several major cases, including those involving President Lee Jae-myung and figures from the ruling party.

Legal analysts say the trend raises concerns about the erosion of prosecutorial independence amid pressure from the government and political circles.

Prosecutors declined to appeal the first-instance ruling in the Daejang-dong development corruption case involving President Lee in November last year. Reports later suggested that senior leadership at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office overruled recommendations from the investigation and trial teams to pursue an appeal.

The decision also effectively halted efforts to recover approximately 780 billion won ($585 million) in alleged illicit profits from developers linked to the Daejang-dong project.

Prosecutors also chose not to appeal a similar case involving alleged corruption in the Wirye new town development project.

Appeal decisions have also drawn attention in other politically sensitive cases.

In the first-trial verdict related to the 2020 West Sea shooting of a South Korean fisheries official, prosecutors filed what observers described as a “partial appeal” against former National Security Office Director Seo Hoon and former Coast Guard Commissioner Kim Hong-hee.

In a separate case involving allegations of illegal political funding tied to former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, prosecutors did not file an appeal to the Supreme Court even after the appellate court overturned the earlier ruling and issued an acquittal.

Prosecutors also declined to appeal rulings involving current and former Democratic Party lawmakers connected to a National Assembly fast-track legislation dispute. Officials said the decision was based on a judgment that further appeals would have “limited practical benefit.” Prosecutors likewise did not appeal convictions involving lawmakers from the opposition People Power Party in the same case.

Under South Korean law, prosecutors are required to perform their duties independently. However, some legal experts argue that recent decisions suggest political pressure may be influencing prosecutorial discretion.

President Lee previously criticized prosecutors during a cabinet meeting in September last year, saying prosecutors sometimes file indictments even when cases lack legal grounds and pursue appeals after acquittals to avoid responsibility.

Lee also ordered an internal inspection after prosecutors staged a collective walkout during the trial of former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young.

Following those developments, lawmakers from the ruling party introduced legislation to revise disciplinary procedures for prosecutors and pushed for amendments to the Criminal Act aimed at punishing judges and prosecutors who intentionally distort legal interpretation or misjudge facts during investigations or trials.

The ruling party has also formed a parliamentary group advocating for the withdrawal of charges against President Lee and for a national investigation into what they claim were politically motivated indictments.

Cha Jin-ah, a professor at Korea University Law School, said prosecutors appear increasingly reluctant to challenge the administration.

“Prosecutors who might once have pursued investigations or maintained indictments against the government with conviction are now watching the political climate,” Cha said. “This risks subordinating prosecutorial decisions to political power.”

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260304010000994

Carol Hutchins had been looking forward to a sunny break in the TUI Magic Life Hotel in Fuerteventura with her daughter, Layla, at the end of October, but she didn’t get further than the airport

A disabled woman has been left “very upset” after she missed her holiday to the Canary Islands because of her mobility scooter battery.

Carol Hutchins had been looking forward to a sunny break in the TUI Magic Life Hotel in Fuerteventura with her daughter, Layla, at the end of October. However, the mum-and-daughter duo’s dream trip ended at Manchester Airport, where staff told them Carol’s scooter couldn’t be loaded onto the plane.

Carol has been left “very upset” by the missed holiday and the fact that she’s over £1,000 out of pocket. There is no suggestion that TUI did not follow protocol. However, Carol and Layla’s experience serves as a warning to Brits travelling overseas with a mobility scooter.

A TUI spokesperson explained: “We’re sorry that Ms Hutchins wasn’t able to travel on her holiday, and we recognise how upsetting that must have been for her. This was due to them not having the required documentation and battery identification information for their electric mobility aid, which meant it couldn’t be cleared to fly under safety guidance. The TUI airport team supported her on the day and explored alternative options, which she chose not to accept.”

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Carol booked her holiday to the sun-soaked Canary Islands at the TUI Doncaster store on 23 October 2025. As the booking was made within two weeks of departure, the travel agent called the welfare team while Carol was in the shop, to make sure the mobility scooter was added to the booking.

When a mobility aid is added to a holiday booking, customers receive the Conditions of Carriage, which include important instructions passengers must follow before their flight.

They state: “The battery or batteries should clearly be labelled showing the type and the watt-hour (Wh) rating. Failure to show this can lead to refusal of battery or batteries. Please carry the manufacturer’s operating instructions with you, which will help you and the airport staff to block the vehicle’s electric circuits and remove the battery if necessary.”

According to TUI, the Conditions of Carriage were emailed to Ms Hutchins four times as her booking was updated, and given twice again alongside ticket documentation.

When Carol and Layla arrived at Manchester Airport on October 29, her battery did not have any visible ID label, meaning airport staff could not legally clear it under safety regulations.

An on-site duty manager contacted the resort team in Fuerteventura to find an alternative mobility scooter she could use on her holiday.

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However, according to Layla, Carol did not feel comfortable travelling without her own or with the idea that she might be without one for a period once at her destination.

According to TUI, Carol and Layla turned down the offer of two alternative flights and goodwill vouchers.

TUI’s website has a section that explains what customers on mobility scooters need to know and do before they travel.

Before flying with your electric mobility aid, you’ll need to:

• Check your battery type and specifications
• Provide battery details to TUI in advance
• Bring manufacturer documentation to the airport

TUI accepts these battery types:

• Non-spillable batteries (like AGM, Gel Cell, SLA)
• Lithium batteries with specific watt-hour limits:
• Single battery: maximum 300Wh
• Two batteries: maximum 160Wh each
• However, wet cell (spillable) batteries are not permitted on TUI flights.

Important pre-flight steps:

• Share your device’s battery details with TUI as early as possible
• Bring manufacturer documentation showing battery specifications
• If documentation is unavailable, check the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) website or contact your device manufacturer
• Remember that spare or removable batteries must be carried in the cabin

Adrian Dunbar, who has played Superintendent Ted Hastings in Line of Duty for years, has starred in the lead role of Alex Ridley in the ITV detective series since 2022

Popular crime drama Ridley — which stars Adrian Dunbar — has been scrapped despite top ratings, it is reported.

The ITV series sees Dunbar play the title role, a retired Detective Inspector turned police consultant and regular jazz club singer, and has drawn in viewers since 2022. Bronagh Waugh and Georgie Glen have also had regular roles across the two seasons.

But there will be no more, according to reports today. ITV has reportedly decided to shelve the programme, filmed across Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales.

An ITV spokesman said: “There are currently no plans to return to Ridley. We’d like to extend our thanks to creator and writer Paul Matthew Thompson, executive producer Jonathan Fisher and the team at West Road Pictures for producing two successful series.”

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It is a fresh blow for Dunbar, 67, following years of uncertainty around the future of Line of Duty. The actor, born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, had hinted he hoped Ridley would return. Speaking in an interview in August last year, Dunbar said: “The programme did very good numbers when it was shown in America and I know that PBS [the US’s Public Broadcasting Service], who part-financed Ridley, would like us to film another series.

“There’s definitely more to be said about Alex Ridley, his troubled life and the team of detectives with whom he works, and I would love to film more.”

But The Sun says this unlikely. The publication reports the programme had received top reviews and, since the last series ended in the autumn of last year, there had been hints it would come back.

Dunbar’s uncertainty around Line of Duty finally vanished late last year though when it was confirmed the popular police drama would return for a seventh season. In November last year, a source said: “Although this has been discussed at length since the unsatisfactory ending of series six in 2021, it’s still going to create huge excitement when the Beeb makes the announcement.

“It’s one they’ve been preparing to make for weeks, but they’ve been trying to pick the right moment, since The Celebrity Traitors has been hogging quite a lot of limelight recently.” They added: “And the BBC very much view Line Of Duty as one of the jewels in its crown that they want to deliver with some fanfare.”

Martin Compston played DS Steve Arnott in the show, which came to an end when his character and his team discovered the identity of “H”. He last year also shared details on whether viewers can expect more from the series.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton said of Nygren on Sky Sports: “What a strange player. He can go missing in midfield but comes up with goals.”

Just as well given Daizen Maeda is still looking like a shadow of the player who lit up Scottish football last season, January loan signings Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu have yet to fully impress and Kelechi Iheanacho has disappeared from view despite his return from injury.

Nygren is not one of the title winners Tierney talked about in Celtic’s squad, but the 24-year-old Sweden midfielder is doing more than most to make sure he gets that league winners’ medal.

Former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan enthused on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound: “The impact substitutes you’ve seen at the weekend, you’ve seen it again tonight with Benjamin Nygren and James Forrest linking up.

“Lovely tee-up from Forrest and Nygren just finishes – we’ve seen that time and time again and he’s had a real impact in this team.”

Indeed, Nygren has found the net three times and provided one assist in his latest four Premiership games – and his 15 goals are more than any other Celtic player in the league this season.

“I know Nygren gives up certain parts of the game, but what he does do is he gets into the box and gets on the end of things,” Allan said.

“I felt his overall play in the game was really good, played some lovely through balls, always looked like he was going to be a threat round about that 18-yard box and he was the difference again tonight.”

His manager was similary enthusiastic.

“He’s doing something that is the most difficult thing in the game – to score goals -and he’s popped up again with what proved to be the winning goal,” O’Neill said.

“Substitutes in recent weeks have made big contributions to us, so that’s important for us.”

Iranian media shared footage from several cities showing demonstrators condemning the US-Israeli war and chanting anti-Israel slogans.

In Iran’s major turning points, Hassan Rouhani’s name tends to resurface – even when he is no longer at the centre of decision-making. And as the Islamic Republic enters a sensitive transitional phase after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint United States-Israeli strike, the question of which figures might be used to calm the domestic arena or rebalance power inside the system has returned to the forefront.

Rouhani, Iran’s former president (2013–2021), a Muslim leader with a doctorate in law, is not an outsider to the system he once promised to “reform”. He is a product of it: a longtime parliamentarian, a veteran of the national-security apparatus, and a former chief nuclear negotiator who rose to the presidency in 2013 as a pragmatist offering economic relief through diplomacy.

The long road through parliament

Rouhani was born in 1948 in Sorkheh, in Iran’s Semnan province. He received religious training in the Hawza system (Islamic religious seminary), then studied law at the University of Tehran, before earning a PhD in law from Glasgow Caledonian University in 1999.

After the revolution, he built his career through parliament. He was elected to the Majlis (Iran’s legislature) for five consecutive terms between 1980 and 2000, giving him practical political experience and longstanding relationships within the elite.

That background explains part of his later image as a “consensus man” more than an ideological confrontational leader: someone who moves within the rules of the game, not outside them.

A ‘third road’ in Iran’s post-revolution politics

To understand Rouhani’s political brand, it helps to place it in a longer arc of post-1979 ideological currents inside the Islamic Republic – an arc often described in Iranian political writing as a sequence of competing “discourses” that nonetheless remained anchored to the revolution and the system’s religious-constitutional framework.

Iran moved through phases that emphasised different priorities: currents sometimes described as “Islamic left”, “Islamic liberalism”, and a more market-oriented turn under former leader Hashemi Rafsanjani; then a period of “Islamic democracy” and “civil society” associated with Mohammad Khatami; followed by a social-justice-heavy, populist register under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

That’s when Rouhani arrived with the language of e‘tedal –or “moderation”.

Within that framework, “moderation” presents itself as an attempt to balance what supporters call the system’s two pillars: the “Republic” (pragmatism, governance, responsiveness) and the “Islamic” (ideals, clerical authority, revolutionary identity). This balance became central to Rouhani’s pitch in 2013: He promised to reduce external pressure, restart economic growth and lower domestic polarisation without challenging the authority structure that ultimately constrains any elected president in Iran.

The negotiator and president

Between 2003 and 2005, Rouhani led Iran’s delegation in nuclear negotiations with the “European troika” (Britain, France and Germany). He gained a reputation as a “pragmatist” among Western diplomats, while Iranian hardliners accused him of making concessions.

Later, that record became a pillar of his 2013 presidential campaign: a negotiator rather than a confrontationist.

In June that year, Rouhani won the presidency in the first round with more than 50 percent of the vote, avoiding a run-off in an election that saw high turnout.

Rouhani’s signature achievement was the 2015 nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 – the US, China, Russia, France, United Kingdom and European Union.

Under the deal, the US and its allies lifted the bulk of sanctions imposed on Iran, and allowed Tehran access to more than $100bn in frozen assets. In exchange, Iran agreed to major caps on its nuclear programme.

At home, Rouhani sold the deal as a route to normalise the economy and curb inflation.

2017: A second mandate – and first brush with Trump

In May 2017, Rouhani won a second term with about 57 percent of the vote. Many inside Iran read the result as a bet by the country’s people on continued “opening” and reduced isolation.

But the power equation within Iran did not change. The presidency manages day-to-day governance, but it does not decide alone on the security services, the judiciary, the Revolutionary Guards or the core media architecture.

The diplomatic opening proved short-lived. In 2018, US President Donald Trump, in his first term, withdrew Washington from the JCPOA and reimposed sweeping sanctions, sharply limiting the economic gains Rouhani had promised. The reversal weakened Iran’s pragmatists and reformists, who had invested political capital in defending the agreement as the best available route out of isolation–while giving hardliners new ammunition to argue that negotiations with the US cannot deliver durable relief.

Post-presidential year – and a return from political exile?

Rouhani’s presidency ended in 2021, and with the rise of conservative dominance within Iran’s politics, he appeared to be gradually pushed to the margins. He then became a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts – the body constitutionally empowered to choose the supreme leader.

But in January 2024, the Reuters news agency reported that the Guardian Council barred Rouhani from running again for the Assembly of Experts.

Two years later, after the February 28 strike that killed Khamenei, the country – according to the constitution– entered a temporary arrangement phase until the Assembly of Experts selects a new leader. President Masoud Pezeshkian, Supreme Court Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei and Guardian Council member Ayatollah Alireza Arafi form the interim leadership council that are in charge until the Assembly of Experts announces its pick for the next Supreme Leader. 

And from the hushed conversations and chatter that have emerged from within Iran’s elite circles over potential candidates for the supreme leader’s role, Rouhani’s name has resurfaced.

That possible return to political life, analysts say, is a testament to what Rouhani represents in Iran’s factional geometry: a governing style that privileges tactical compromise, economic management and controlled engagement – while remaining fundamentally loyal to the Islamic Republic’s constitutional-religious architecture.

As Iran plans Khamenei’s succession, it faces a central question: whether to broaden legitimacy by incorporating pragmatic faces or double down on a security-first posture. Rouhani sits at that crossroads – not the architect of the system, and no longer a principal decision-maker, but a durable indicator of how far Iran’s establishment is willing to bend without breaking.

Seven extra groups now qualify for a Disabled Person’s Railcard including blue badge holders

More people will now qualify for reduced-price rail journeys across the UK. Seven additional categories are now eligible for a Disabled Person’s Railcard after the scheme was broadened on March 1.

This railcard grants the holder and an accompanying adult a one-third discount on most train tickets throughout England, Scotland and Wales. It presently costs £20 for one year or £54 for three. Until this month, the Disabled Person’s Railcard had exclusively been available to those claiming particular benefits or living with certain medical conditions. From March 1, it continues to be available to those individuals, but the criteria has been widened.

It now encompasses a wider spectrum of visible and non-visible disabilities. Individuals who now qualify include those who:

• Have a blue badge
• Have a disabled person’s bus pass (England, Scotland and Wales)
• Have a disabled person’s Freedom Pass (London only)
• Can’t drive on medical grounds
• Receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefits
• Receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for 20 per cent degree of disablement or higher
• Are without speech

Other people who still qualify

The existing qualifying criteria for a Disabled Person’s Railcard remains valid, which means you can hold a railcard if you:

• Receive Personal Independence Payments or Adult Disability Payment
• Receive Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payment at either the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or the higher or middle rate for the care component
• Have a visual impairment
• Are registered as deaf or use a hearing aid
• Have epilepsy and receive drug treatment for it
• Receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment
• Receive war pensioner’s mobility supplement
• Receive war or service disablement pension for 80 per cent or more disability
• Buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme

From September 2026 it is intended that the scheme will broaden further allowing even more people to apply for a card. On the Disabled Persons Railcard website, it states: “Phase 2, launching in September 2026, will further extend eligibility to disabilities and conditions that require professional health evidence and more detailed assessment, including some long-term or degenerative medical conditions, and neurodiversity where it has a substantial impact on a person’s ability to travel by train.

“More detailed evidentiary requirements will be made available for this phase closer to implementation in September 2026.”

It is worth noting that if you already hold one of these railcards, the changes won’t affect you. The website states: “These upcoming changes to the eligibility criteria won’t affect your current Railcard or your eligibility. You can continue using your Railcard as usual without any disruption.”

How to apply

You can submit an application online here. You can select a digital card accessible via your mobile, which becomes available within five working days.

Alternatively, you can choose a physical card, which may take up to 15 days to reach you by post. The application process should require no longer than 10 minutes to finish.

Before starting, you must ensure you have the following prepared:

• A valid debit or credit card
• Documentary evidence of the Railcard holder’s disability that can be scanned and uploaded as a file
• A passport-style photograph (it can even be captured with your phone)

You cannot submit an application in person at a railway station but you can apply by post. To do this, you can download a Disabled Persons Railcard application form online or obtain an application form from any staffed station ticket office.

You will then need to fill in and return this application, together with the required evidence of disability and payment to:

National Railcards

PO box 8626

SWADLINCOTE

DE11 1JA

A complete list of what is recognised as documentary evidence of the disability can be located online here.

THE mother of Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows has pleaded for footage of her son’s death never to be aired.

Cameras were rolling when Meadows went overboard off the coast of Alaska last week.

The 25-year-old fell into the freezing waters of the Bering Sea while filming the long-running Discovery Channel series.

His body was recovered ten minutes later, but attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

His mother, Angela, told TMZ: “We don’t want to see any footage of the accident and do not want Discovery to air any of that footage or make money off of our son’s death.

“We hope they only air good things of Todd on that boat.”

FISHING TRAGEDY

Deadliest Catch star Todd Meadows died after falling overboard into sea

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Instead, Angela said the family has requested footage of Todd crabbing so they can remember him doing what he loved.

The family is still waiting for a definitive answer about how he died, but Angela says she has been assured her son did not suffer in his final moments.

“We don’t want to put the blame on anyone, but someone has to take responsibility. We will have justice for Todd,” she added.

A spokesperson for the US Coast Guard said that on February 25, just after 5pm local time, officials were alerted that Meadows had gone overboard.

The alarm was raised by the fishing vessel Aleutian Lady, which reported he fell into the water about 170 miles north of Dutch Harbour, near Alaska.

Captain Rick Shelford confirmed the devastating loss in a Facebook post, calling February 25 “the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea.”

“We lost our brother, Todd Meadows,” he wrote.

“Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family. His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away.

“His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always.”

Discovery Channel also released a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Todd Meadows.

“This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his loved ones, his crewmates and the entire fishing community during this incredibly difficult time.

“Our hearts are broken in a way that words can’t fully express.”

Todd is survived by three sons, and a GoFundMe has been started to support them.

The Bering Sea – known for its shallow depth, volatile weather, and freezing temperatures – is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the world.

The hazards of the job are well-known among those who work the waters.

Captain Sig Hansen has previously described facing “life-threatening situations” at sea.

“We’ve had events where the boat was icing down to the point where I thought there was no return, he told Fox News.

But results never tell the whole story.

Four games ago at West Ham, Manchester United were “stodgy'” by Carrick’s own admission. It took an injury-time Benjamin Sesko goal to salvage a point.

At Everton, Sesko finished off the only notable passage of play from either side. On Sunday, Manchester United‘s response to going behind early to Crystal Palace was muted until Matheus Cunha won the penalty that also brought the red card that turned the game on its head.

Carrick’s team have been getting results. However, their most-recent performances have not matched those that beat Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham at the start of his time at the helm.

Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have not been a goal threat; Kobbie Mainoo’s performance levels have dipped, while penetration from full-back areas has reduced.

It is a basic reality that they do not have limitless numbers of top-quality players. By the final whistle at St James’ Park, Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu were all absent because of injury. Casemiro and Luke Shaw were off the pitch feeling the effects of two hard games in four days. Carrick does not have the squad depth to cover those losses and still keep standards high.

So, embarrassingly, Manchester United lost against 10 men for the second time in just over three months. The damage was done by William Osula – a player who, as an 11-year-old, appeared on the pitch at Old Trafford to collect a Soccer Schools World Skills final victory prize.

His goal came after he got the better of Tyrell Malacia, who was making only his second appearance of a season he started as a member of Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’. The previous one was against Newcastle too.

The damage is not too bad though. Liverpool lost 24 hours earlier against the league’s bottom club before Aston Villa suffered a heavy home loss to Chelsea on Wednesday.

Manchester United remain third. They remain, out of the sides scrapping it out for three Champions League places in addition to the ones Arsenal and Manchester City will claim, the ones with no European or domestic cup distractions.

“We need to learn from this,” said Carrick.

“There is no sense in not learning lessons and understanding how tonight happened.

“We can’t lose sight of the bigger picture though – we have put ourselves into a position that can be really exciting.

“We’ve got to be positive going into the next game and look forward to it because there is a lot to play for.”

Carrick is right about that.

He needs to make sure his team’s response to this defeat is just as sure footed.

March 4 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Army has begun its 2026 reservist training program using advanced simulation and data systems designed to improve combat realism and tactical efficiency.

At a science-based reservist training center in Seoul’s Seocho district on Wednesday, reservists trained with the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System, known as MILES, which uses laser signals and sensors to determine hits during simulated combat.

When a reservist was struck during a mock urban battle exercise, the equipment immediately sounded an alert indicating the participant had been “killed,” demonstrating the system’s ability to provide instant and objective combat assessments.

The Army said the system replaces earlier exercises that relied heavily on instructor judgment. Instead, the equipment records hits and performance data in real time, allowing trainees to review their results and identify areas for improvement.

Officials say the new approach encourages a more participatory training model in which reservists track their own performance and refine their skills based on data.

Indoor firing range reduces noise complaints

The facility also includes an indoor shooting range equipped with advanced soundproofing designed to address long-standing noise complaints from nearby residents.

Army officials said the range is quiet enough that it is difficult to detect gunfire outside the building.

Transparent ballistic acrylic panels at each firing lane and automated fire-control systems were installed to improve safety. Reservists monitor their shooting results in real time on digital displays during training.

The Army said the technology helps transform the facility from a traditional military site into security infrastructure that can coexist more easily with surrounding communities.

VR simulations recreate urban battlefields

Reservists also trained in virtual reality simulations using a three-screen system that recreates realistic urban environments.

The scenarios include detailed digital models of locations such as Seocho Station and the COEX underground shopping mall in Seoul’s Gangnam district.

Participants wearing helmets equipped with spatial-recognition technology practiced navigating the terrain and conducting simulated urban combat operations without the constraints of real-world training space.

Smart systems streamline training process

An information and communications technology management system links multiple stages of the training process.

Reservists register by scanning identification cards when they arrive, after which smartwatches and kiosks connect them to a network that manages equipment distribution, firing exercises, tactical drills, evaluation and discharge.

The Army plans to expand the system to additional training facilities and introduce more simulation-based exercises.

Officials said 29 science-based reservist training centers have been built nationwide so far, including one scheduled for completion in Busan later this month.

New facilities are also planned this year in Mokpo, Daejeon, Chilgok, Yeongcheon and Andong. The Army ultimately plans to operate about 40 such centers nationwide.

Col. Park Hyun-gyu, head of the Army’s reservist training policy division, said the program aims to improve readiness while making training more efficient.

“The science-based system enhances training results while minimizing inconvenience for participants,” Park said. “It will strengthen the combat readiness of our reservists while creating a training environment that can coexist with local communities.”

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260304010001086

Israel closes Gaza crossings amid war with Iran, raising fears of famine. Tareq Abu Azzoum explains.

A travel writer explores Aspen and Snowmass in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, discovering stunning Maroon Bells views, cowboy culture, rodeos and summer adventures in America’s most affluent mountain resort

The guide’s instructions were crystal clear: “Keep both hands on the handlebars. Don’t look around. Don’t take photos.”

Yet I simply couldn’t resist. The scenery was far too stunning and I found myself compelled to capture videos of the breathtaking alpine vista surrounding us whilst coasting down from the Maroon Bells, the twin peaks situated behind the twin towns of Aspen and Snowmass, their snow-covered summits still clinging to winter’s final traces despite it being late June.

This stretch of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains is more renowned for its skiing and cold-weather pursuits, yet during summer it transforms into a paradise for those keen to discover the terrain no longer concealed beneath snow.

I’d travelled in from Denver, departing the state capital bathed in evening sunlight as we glided over the snow-dusted peaks. Lines of private aircraft filled the tarmac at tiny Aspen airport.

I’d never witnessed so many. Then again, this ranks among the wealthiest regions in the US, with as many as 125 billionaires possessing homes here, reports the Express.

Tourists appear to be predominantly wealthy or “aspirational”. Imagine the south of France or Dubai, but with ranch culture.

Our accommodation was the stylish W, positioned in Aspen’s heart and near the cable car terminal. It proved as contemporary and fashionable as the other W properties I’ve experienced, though more compact in size – less ostentatious, more intimate.

After refreshing ourselves, I met my tour party on the rooftop terrace where we sipped cocktails as the sun descended with golden beams caressing Mount Aspen. Drinks finished, we headed off for dinner through Aspen’s charming, tree-lined streets, which reveal little evidence of its rough-and-ready heritage as a silver mining settlement.

Following the collapse of the silver boom, Aspen’s prosperity plummeted and only bounced back after being transformed into a ski resort in the mid-20th century. I realised I was struggling slightly to walk.

The booze? No, the 8,000ft elevation (the thin mountain air would leave me breathless for the following few days).

The evocative Steakhouse No. 316 was softly illuminated with stylish Old West-inspired décor. My fillet steak arrived cooked to medium-rare perfection and accompanied by a zesty margarita.

Annoying jetlag brought the evening to an early close, wiping me out by 11pm, then jolting me awake at 3.30am. At least it guaranteed I was first down for breakfast.

I sampled elk sausage and eggs – my initial encounter with the magnificent creatures that continue to inhabit the area – robust, smoky, and as delicious as they are striking. Poor elk.

The morning’s programme featured e-biking up the valley through attractive wetlands (the power-assisted pedalling a blessing) and a stop at the trendy Aspen Art Museum, with its six galleries of contemporary art.

We had lunch at the museum’s rooftop restaurant. Its cuisine may have been uninspiring, but the panorama of Mount Aspen was as stunning as the staircase leading up there.

Every local we encountered that day was incredibly welcoming, stepping aside for us with beaming smiles or cheerful greetings. Despite Aspen’s prestigious reputation, it was refreshingly free from the snobbery you might anticipate in comparable British or European ski resorts.

After lunch, we browsed the souvenir shops. The standout was Kemo Sabe, a Western-themed boutique selling bespoke cowboy gear. It’s every bit as pricey as it is stylish – hats typically cost $1,000. I spotted a basic leather hatband priced at $8,776.

Surely nobody’s quite that ambitious?

Maintaining the Western atmosphere, dinner was at Hotel Jerome, an impressive structure built in the 19th century to rival London’s Savoy. Its bars and restaurants radiated a gentler Western appeal, though the seven-course tasting menu proved disappointing.

Nevertheless, the cocktails were superb and the heritage tangible.

The magnificence continued as we strolled to the nearby Wheeler Opera House for an Emmylou Harris performance. I’d never encountered her work, and the 77-year-old, 14 Grammy-winning folk artist exposed my ignorance as her captivating voice echoed throughout the elegant Victorian-era venue.

Following another night of jet-lag-shortened sleep, I was grateful we caught a cable car to Mount Aspen’s peak for an outdoor yoga session where I loosened my weary muscles whilst overlooking the mountains.

Lunch was back down at the Ajax Tavern beside the cable-car station. Its signature truffle fries were superb, but the signature double beef burgers were rather mediocre.

That sunny evening we travelled onwards to Snowmass, 15 minutes down the valley, pausing at the rodeo. But this wasn’t just any rodeo, this was the Snowmass Rodeo – packed with well-Cuban-heeled cowboys and girls sporting Kemo Sabe hats and designer sunglasses.

Nevertheless, it felt pleasantly down-to-earth, with cheerful families and grins everywhere. Events ranged from children’s sheep-riding (yes, really), bullock lassoing and barrel-racing, building up to bull-riding.

Snowmass Village itself possesses a distinctly different atmosphere from Aspen. Here, the resort has been constructed around the skiing – rather than the other way round – with an extensive network of trails and pistes spreading up the enormous Snowmass Mountain.

During summer, the tree-covered slopes become a mountain biker’s dream, boasting over 50 miles of trails. As we ascended via gondola up the Elk Camp side of the mountain, we observed as they hurtled down, tearing up trails.

Entertaining, but we found our excitement from the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, a roller coaster nestled in the forest where you race downhill in toboggans, my bum squeaking as noisily as the brakes.

From the cable-car terminal, there’s a chairlift ascending to the summit of Elk Camp. Regrettably, it was chilly and wet up there and the views of the Maroon Bells hidden by cloud.

A quick stop for pizza energised us for the descent into Aspen’s tree woods above the village. The afternoon sun illuminated their silver bark and created lengthy shadows.

Combined with the birdsong and post-rain scents, it felt enchanting. Snowmass’s nightlife is considerably more low-key than that of Aspen.

We ate at Aurum, an upscale Mediterranean/American fusion eatery – more outstanding steak and cocktails – and also at Kenichi, a Japanese restaurant serving not only the finest food of the entire trip, but the best Japanese cuisine I’ve ever experienced.

Zane’s and The Tavern are well-loved local watering holes – the former a relaxed sports bar, the latter buzzing with boisterous young punters drowning out the gravelly old country singer.

Our last morning kicked off with that bike ride down from Maroon Bells. The sight of the twin peaks looming majestically over the unspoilt Maroon Lake was nothing short of spectacular.

And, thankfully, the journey back to Aspen was downhill the entire way. After such a stunning trip, in every sense of the word, it was a thoroughly fitting send-off.

Book the holiday

LIFE Film Festival (Latina Independent Film Extravaganza) returns to Los Angeles this week for its 13th year. Founded by “Real Women Have Curves” playwright Josefina López, the festival will screen over 60 short films and four feature movies at Casa 0101 in Boyle Heights, and for the first time at Cinépolis in Pico Rivera.

From Thursday to Sunday, LIFE Film Festival will offer a series of workshops and networking opportunities where aspiring filmmakers will have a chance to learn from Latinas in Hollywood, like Emmy Award-winning editor Michelle Tesoro, who worked on Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit” and the 2023 film “Maestro.”

Since López founded LIFE Film Festival in 2013, her commitment remains the same: to celebrate Latino stories in cinema and empower the next generation of Latina filmmakers.

As a Chicana screenwriter and producer for over 30 years, López knows firsthand the underrepresentation of Latinos in Hollywood films. “Latinos are the majority here in California, and we’re still rendered invisible, even though the industry is right in our backyard,” López said. “They just really don’t want to invest in our stories.”

According to UCLA’s 2025 Hollywood Diversity Report, which looked at the 104 top-performing English-language movies released in 2024, only 1% of leading roles went to Latinos; less than 5% of directors were Latino; and approximately 2% of writers were Latino in last year’s top movies. Latinos make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population.

When it comes to gender, the disparities were even more glaring. There were zero Latina directors and screenwriters in the top theatrical movie releases of 2024. In front of the camera, the numbers weren’t that much better. Less than 1 in 50 movie roles went to Latinas.

“I never knew anybody in my family who was a screenwriter, and now I’m a WGA screenwriter and I’m giving back to my community,” LIFE Film Festival co-director Cristina Nava said. “I could be the tia [to] one of these filmmakers.”

López’s response to underrepresentation extends beyond opening doors. With LIFE, she says she wants to support storytellers who are challenging Latino stereotypes. “There are all sorts of Latinos,” López said. “Yes, we are the immigrants, the servants, but we’re more than that.”

Every year, LIFE recognizes a Latina moviemaker whose work has reshaped representation within the entertainment industry, with the Lupe Ontiveros Award.

Created by López to honor the legendary Mexican American actress, the award is bestowed to a filmmaker whose work amplifies Latino voices. This year’s honoree is “Encanto” Oscar-winning producer Yvett Merino.

In her 35 year-long career, Ontiveros played the role of maids and housekeepers over 150 times. López believed that Hollywood was wasting her friend’s talents and promised to cast her as a more complex and interesting character.

López kept her word, casting Ontiveros as Carmen, the hardworking, hysterical mother in “Real Women Have Curves.” “We have to keep telling stories so that all these talented Latino actors have better opportunities than to play stereotypes,” she said.

Williamson has been listed as 6-foot-6, 284 pounds since New Orleans selected him out of Duke with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft. His weight and fitness level have been regularly criticized, and the amount of time Williamson has missed because of injuries hasn’t helped (including all of the 2021-22 season following offseason right foot surgery).

After playing only 30 games last season because of a left hamstring strain and a lower back injury, Williamson reported for 2025-26 looking trim and in shape. He told reporters that he and Pelicans trainer Daniel Bove had come up with a strategy to address his fitness while rehabbing his hamstring and that he stuck to it.

“I haven’t felt like this since college, high school,” Williamson said at the time, “where I can walk in the gym and I’m like just, ‘I feel good.’”

Williamson has played in 46 of the Pelicans’ 63 games this season, already the third-most games he has played in his seven NBA seasons. In a recent interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Williamson addressed how the past criticism affected him mentally.

“I would say the most difficult point was when I missed my third year with a broken foot, and there was a lot of criticism on my weight, my care for the game, etc.,” Williamson said. “But … while people were saying what they’re saying — and everybody’s entitled to their own opinion, it is what it is — I’m in Portland rehabbing, not knowing if my foot’s gonna heal, and it was frustrating. It was very frustrating.

“I was low. I was really low because I just wanted to play basketball. I just wanted to play the game I love, but every time you turn the TV on, every time I check my phone, it was nothing but negative criticism, man. At the time, it did a lot, like I said, it did a lot, but it was a blessing in disguise, and I learned from it and I grew from it.”

March 4 (Asia Today) — A series of legislative proposals by South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party has sparked debate over judicial independence, as critics argue the measures could affect ongoing criminal cases involving President Lee Jae-myung.

The legislation includes proposals to expand the Supreme Court, introduce constitutional review of court rulings and abolish the crime of breach of trust. Legal experts say the bills, combined with calls to drop certain prosecutions, raise concerns that lawmakers could influence judicial proceedings.

Five criminal cases involving Lee are currently paused while he serves as president. As the National Assembly moves forward with legal revisions, some members of the legal community warn the changes could intersect with those trials.

National Assembly inquiry targets prosecution investigations

According to political sources, the Democratic Party has launched a parliamentary committee seeking a national investigation into what it calls politically motivated prosecutions under the previous administration.

The committee plans to examine several high-profile cases involving political figures, including the Daejang-dong development case and allegations involving transfers of funds to North Korea.

Party officials have also urged prosecutors to withdraw indictments in cases involving Lee.

The move has prompted criticism from legal observers who say the National Assembly should not interfere in criminal proceedings.

Judicial reform bills move quickly through parliament

The Democratic Party has advanced three major judicial reform bills in recent weeks.

The legislation would expand the number of Supreme Court justices from 14 to 26, allow the Constitutional Court to review final court rulings through a judicial complaint system and introduce a new criminal offense for officials who deliberately misapply the law in judicial decisions or investigations.

Supporters say the reforms are aimed at addressing structural issues within the judiciary.

However, some legal analysts say the proposals could alter the balance of power within the court system and influence the legal environment surrounding ongoing cases.

Breach of trust law could affect corruption cases

Another proposal under discussion involves abolishing the criminal offense of breach of trust, which has been used in several major corruption investigations.

If the law were repealed, legal experts say it could affect cases related to development projects in Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong as well as allegations involving misuse of a provincial government corporate credit card.

Under South Korean law, when a criminal statute is repealed after an alleged offense, courts may dismiss charges related to that statute.

Concerns raised over separation of powers

Some lawyers say the pace and scope of the legislative initiatives raise broader concerns about the balance between the legislative and judicial branches.

“The outcome of trials should be determined in court,” one attorney who previously served as a senior prosecutor said. “If lawmakers change laws in ways that directly affect ongoing cases, it raises questions about the separation of powers.”

Supporters of the legislation argue the reforms are necessary to improve accountability within the justice system.

Debate over the proposals is expected to continue as the National Assembly reviews the measures during the current parliamentary session.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260305010001168

Today’s sinking of an Iranian warship by a U.S. Navy nuclear attack submarine is a hugely significant event in the annals of military history. After all, you have to go back to the final days of World War II to find the last time a U.S. submarine sank an enemy vessel. Since then, however, submarines under the flags of different navies have sunk vessels in combat.

You can catch up with our coverage of the sinking of the Iranian warship here.

In fact, there are some varying accounts as to which U.S. Navy submarine was the last to sink an enemy vessel. The situation at sea as World War II was drawing to a close in the Pacific was a chaotic one, with an increasingly deadly U.S. Navy submarine force tearing through the remnants of Japanese shipping, with subs racking up multiple victories in a short space of time.

With the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in disarray and with Japan still reeling from the two atomic bombs dropped on it, what was left of its seagoing force provided relatively easy pickings for U.S. submarine commanders.

As such, it was on VJ-Day, or Victory over Japan Day, that U.S. subs claimed their last victims before today’s action.

According to available records, on August 14, 1945, the same day that saw President Harry S. Truman announce Japan’s unconditional surrender, two U.S. submarines sank three Japanese warships.

The first victim — a Japanese submarine — appears to have fallen to the USS Spikefish (SS-404).

Commissioned in June 1944, the Spikefish was a Balao class submarine, the Navy’s largest submarine class, with 120 boats completed. With a surfaced displacement of 1,526 tons, the Balao was around 311 feet long and had a speed of 20 knots surfaced, reduced to 8.75 knots submerged. Moving on the surface at a speed of 10 knots, the boats could cover 11,000 nautical miles.

As of the night of August 13, 1945, the IJN transport submarine I-373 was surfaced in the East China Sea, southeast of Shanghai. Transport submarines of this type were used by the Japanese to transport troops and supplies between mainland Japan and remote islands. Spikefish sighted the Japanese sub on its radar at 8:10 p.m. and also detected emissions from its air-search radar. Spikefish got closer before losing visual contact, after which the I-373 disappeared below the waves. Just after midnight, Spikefish regained radar contact. At 4:24 a.m., Spikefish fired a spread of six Mk 14 torpedoes at a range of 1,300 yards. Two of the torpedoes hit I-373, sinking it. Spikefish surfaced and found five survivors in the water, all of whom refused rescue, a grim reflection of the bitter fighting at this late stage of the Pacific conflict. One IJN crew member was forcibly brought aboard the U.S. sub; his 84 compatriots died.

In previous days, the USS Torsk, a Tench class submarine, commissioned in December 1944, had been marauding in and around the Tsushima Strait, which lies between Korea and Japan. Here, the boat had been picking off Japanese merchant vessels and warships.

The Tench class was essentially an improvement of the earlier Balao and Gato classes, moderately bigger but more strongly built and with more fuel. These boats had a surfaced displacement of 1,570 tons, were also around 311 feet long, and had similar surfaced and submerged speeds to the Balao. Thanks to their additional fuel capacity, the Tench boats had a range of around 16,000 nautical miles.

On August 14, Torsk encountered a medium-sized Japanese cargo ship accompanied by the Japanese Type C escort vessel CD-47, off Maizuru in the Sea of Japan. At 10:35 a.m., Torsk launched a Mk 28 torpedo, an experimental type with acoustic homing. The torpedo smashed a hole in the stern of the escort, which quickly went below the waves. An attempt was made to sink the cargo ship, too, as it entered harbor, but the torpedoes missed.

At around midday, a second Type C escort vessel, CD-13, arrived, apparently in pursuit of Torsk. After firing off a Mk 28 torpedo, Torsk dived for safety. From a depth of 400 feet, Torsk launched a Mk 27 torpedo, a weapon known as “CUTIE,” this time with passive homing. The hydrophone operator on the Torsk then detected a large explosion, indicating the Mk 28 had found its target. The Mk 27 impacted moments later.

While the timings are not entirely clear, CD-13 is widely identified as being the last Japanese warship to be sunk in World War II, and therefore the last enemy vessel to have been sunk by a U.S. submarine until today.

The war still wasn’t over for Torsk, however. With more patrol vessels arriving, plus patrol aircraft, the submarine had to remain submerged for more than seven hours after CD-13 went under. After this date, other Japanese vessels would continue to be sunk by mines that had been laid earlier, including by submarines.

Torsk received two battle stars for its World War II service and is today preserved in the Historic Ships collection in Baltimore.

At a press conference today, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that the sinking of an Iranian warship by an as-yet unidentified U.S. submarine marked the “first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.”

This is not true.

The Torsk may have been the last U.S. submarine to have sunk an enemy ship prior to today, but other navies have achieved the same feat.

Back in 1971, during the Indo-Pakistan War, the Indian Navy frigate INS Khukri was sunk by the Pakistan Navy submarine PNS Hangor. The Khukri, with a displacement of around 1,200 tons, became the first warship anywhere to fall prey to a submarine since the end of World War II.

The Falklands War, fought in the South Atlantic in 1982, between the United Kingdom and Argentina, saw the first instance of a nuclear-powered submarine sinking an enemy vessel.

On May 2, 1982, in a somewhat controversial incident, the Argentine Navy cruiser ARA General Belgrano was sunk by a torpedo launched by the British nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Conqueror, with the loss of over 300 crew.

The controversy around the incident centers upon the fact that General Belgrano was targeted when it was outside a so-called ‘total exclusion zone,’ covering a 200-nautical-mile radius from the Falklands. While there were subsequent protests about the legality of the action, the fact remains that the British had previously warned Argentina that any ships that posed a potential threat to its own task force would be sunk.

Until the sinking of the Russian Navy’s Slava class cruiser Moskva by Ukrainian anti-ship missiles in 2022, the sinking of the General Belgrano was the last time a cruiser was fully destroyed by enemy action.

Another disputed incident occurred in 2010, with the sinking of the South Korean warship ROKS Cheonan.

On March 26, 2010, the Cheonan, a Pohang class corvette, sank in the Yellow Sea, off the country’s west coast, killing 46 of the 104 personnel on board. Exactly why the warship sank remains a matter of conjecture, although a South Korean-led investigation concluded that the vessel was sunk by a North Korean torpedo fired by a midget submarine. The U.S. Navy also stated that the sinking was caused by a non-contact homing torpedo that exploded near the ship. North Korea denied responsibility.

The manner of the sinking certainly appears consistent with a torpedo hit, with an explosion reported near the stern of the ship that caused it to break in half soon afterward.

Since then, the closest we have come to seeing submarines destroying other vessels has been sinking exercises (SINKEX) and similar tests. At times, these have also provided a rare glimpse into the effects of potential adversaries’ submarine weapons capabilities. Case in point, the sinking of a decommissioned Chinese amphibious landing ship by a People’s Liberation Army Navy submarine, seen in the video below: 

The cloak-and-dagger nature of submarine operations means that many details about their use in combat remain closely guarded secrets. In the case of the Cheonan, we may never exactly know what happened to it. For the time being, we also await more information about today’s sinking of the Iranian frigate. What is certain, however, is that this was an unprecedented event, at least as far as the modern U.S. Navy is concerned, and a truly rare action by any standards.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com