After the China tie, Team Whyte, who are ranked in the world’s top five but are making their debut at this level, continue the round-robin against Norway (02:00). They conclude it with matches against the Swiss and Czech Republic on Thursday, with the tie with Switzerland available to watch on the BBC Sport website and app.
Whyte – along with Robin Brydone, Euan Kyle and Craig Waddell – are representing Scotland after world top-ranked rink Team Mouat elected not to compete after their silver medal at the Olympics in Cortina earlier this year.
The top six progress, with the top two going straight into the semi-finals and the other four teams competing to join them.
“We have two tough games [on Wednesday] in China and Norway,” said Whyte.
“Both teams seem to be playing quite well, so if we can try to come out firing and put in some good performances then that would be great to allow in the last stage to maybe get us two more wins and hopefully secure us the semi-final spot.
“However, there are a lot of teams around that area that could easily also get that semi-final spot, so there a lot of big games still to be played, but we are feeling positive.”
New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr hit a stunning 179 not out off 139 balls to inspire her side to chase down 346 against South Africa in the highest successful run chase in women’s one-day international history.
Laura Wolvaardt’s 69 from 74 balls, a 91 from 90 balls by Anneke Bosch and Chloe Tryon’s 25-ball 52 helped South Africa post 346-6 in the second ODI of their series against the Kiwis.
Kerr came in at 21-1 in New Zealand’s reply and struck 23 fours and one six at a strike rate of 128.78 during her match-winning knock.
She was helped by Izzy Gaze, who made 68 from 48 balls, as the Kiwis made 350-8 in reaching their target with two balls to spare and levelling the series.
The previous highest successful chase in women’s ODI cricket was when India made 341-5 in reaching a 338 target set by Australia in their World Cup semi-final last October.
Kerr is no stranger to producing heroics, especially against South Africa, as she inspired New Zealand to victory against them in a T20 World Cup final in 2024.
She was also the ICC’s women’s cricketer of the year in 2024.
Kerr also holds the record for the highest individual innings in a women’s ODI, having hit an unbeaten 232 against Ireland when aged 17 in 2018.
Data provided by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI
March 31 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety proposed a 9.52 trillion won ($7.1 billion) supplementary budget on Monday to ease the impact of high oil prices and inflation driven by instability in the Middle East.
The plan includes direct cash payments ranging from 100,000 won to 600,000 won ($75 to $450) per person for low- and middle-income households, along with increased funding for local governments and youth employment programs.
The proposal was approved at a Cabinet meeting and will be submitted to the National Assembly for review.
At the center of the package is a 4.82 trillion won ($3.6 billion) relief program targeting the bottom 70% of income earners. Payments will vary depending on region and socioeconomic status.
Residents in the Seoul metropolitan area would receive 100,000 won ($75), while those outside the capital region would receive 150,000 won ($112). People living in areas facing population decline would receive between 200,000 won and 250,000 won ($150 to $187).
Additional support is aimed at vulnerable groups. Single-parent households and those in the near-poor category would receive 450,000 won ($337), rising to as much as 500,000 won ($375) for those outside the capital region. Recipients of basic livelihood assistance would receive 550,000 won ($412), or up to 600,000 won ($450) with regional adjustments.
The government estimates the program will cover about 32.56 million people in the bottom 70% income bracket, along with 360,000 near-poor and single-parent households and 2.85 million recipients of basic livelihood benefits.
Details such as eligibility criteria, payment timing and methods will be finalized through interagency consultations and announced separately.
The ministry also set aside 19.5 billion won ($14.5 million) for youth work experience programs, focusing on sectors such as caregiving, culture and environmental services. Officials said the initiative is designed to support young people facing increased employment uncertainty amid global economic volatility.
An additional 4.67 trillion won ($3.5 billion) in local government grants is included to help regional authorities respond quickly to local economic conditions and fund projects aimed at stabilizing livelihoods and boosting economic activity.
Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-joong said the relief payments were structured to provide greater support to regions and populations facing deeper economic hardship.
“With growing external uncertainties, including the conflict in the Middle East, we will work closely with the National Assembly to ensure this budget serves as a stabilizing force for people affected by rising fuel costs and inflation,” Yoon said.
Lawmakers pass a revision to the Restriction of Special Taxation Act during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, with 206 votes in favor, 2 against and 2 abstentions out of 210 members present. Photo by Asia Today
March 31 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties agreed Tuesday to pass a package of economic measures, including a currency stabilization bill, as the won weakened sharply amid prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
The legislation was approved during a plenary session alongside more than 60 bills aimed at stabilizing the economy and supporting livelihoods.
The currency measure includes tax incentives designed to encourage domestic investment by individuals who have invested in overseas markets, often referred to in South Korea as retail investors in foreign stocks. Officials said the goal is to increase demand for the Korean won and reduce volatility in foreign exchange markets.
The won traded at 1,530.1 per U.S. dollar on Tuesday, well above the psychologically significant 1,500 level, adding to inflationary pressure.
Floor leader Han Byung-do said the worsening Middle East crisis had begun to affect everyday life, emphasizing the need to contain exchange rate volatility and shield the economy from external shocks.
Lawmakers also approved additional economic legislation tied to the crisis. These include a measure to support corporate restructuring, allowing companies to streamline mergers and spin-offs and receive tax benefits as they respond to industrial challenges and shift into new sectors.
Other bills passed include revisions to trade-related laws aimed at helping businesses adapt to changes in the global trade environment.
Separately, lawmakers voted to fill several vacant leadership posts in National Assembly committees. The Democratic Party nominated Rep. Seo Young-kyo as chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, along with Rep. Kwon Chil-seung and Rep. So Byung-hoon for other committee leadership roles. Their terms will run through May.
The votes were conducted by secret ballot and passed with support from the Democratic Party, while the People Power Party is believed to have opposed the selections.
The People Power Party had argued that the judiciary committee chair should be held by the opposition to ensure checks and balances, noting that the Democratic Party already holds the position of National Assembly speaker.
Hezbollah attempts to make Lebanon ground invasion ‘costly’ for Israeli army as it continues its advance.
Published On 31 Mar 202631 Mar 2026
The Israeli military has said four soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, where its forces are clashing with Hezbollah fighters after launching a ground invasion of the country.
An army statement on Tuesday named three soldiers from the same battalion who “fell during combat”. In a separate statement, it said another soldier had been killed in the same incident and two others wounded, without naming them.
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Ten Israeli soldiers have been reported killed since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah flared up on March 2, following a United States-Israeli joint attack on Iran. More than 1,200 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, and more than a million displaced.
This comes a day after the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said two peacekeepers were killed “when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle” near the southern Lebanese village of Bani Haiyyan. Another peacekeeper was killed by a projectile on Sunday near the southern Lebanese village of Aadchit el-Qsair.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday ordered the military to expand its invasion in southern Lebanon, pushing deeper to extend what he calls a “buffer zone” reaching the Litani River.
Israel’s far-right ministers have urged Netanyahu to annex southern Lebanon, as the military destroys bridges and homes to cut the area off from the rest of the country.
Al Jazeera’s Lebanon correspondent Zeina Khodr said Monday night marked a new escalation as Israel opened a new front in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, targeting roads that link towns known to be Hezbollah strongholds and strategic supply lines for the group.
“In the past weeks, [the Israeli army] hit bridges over the Litani, now they are trying to isolate the west Bekaa from southern Lebanon,” Khodr said, reporting from Beirut.
“Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem made it very clear they know the imbalance of power. They are not going to be able to stop this invasion, and the Israeli army will most likely reach until the Litani River, but they will not make it easy for them to consolidate control,” she continued.
“What Hezbollah is trying to do is make this a costly war for Israel.”
The escalation in Lebanon comes amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, which has killed more than 1,340 people since February 28.
The Israel Hayom newspaper on Monday reported that Netanyahu told senior US officials that any future agreement between the US and Tehran would not stop Israel’s war in Lebanon.
Israel’s far-right Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich last week said in an Israeli radio interview that the war in Lebanon “needs to end with a different reality entirely”, which includes a “change of Israel’s borders”.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs building. Photo by Asia Today
March 30 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s agriculture ministry said Monday it will urgently import 15 million broiler hatching eggs in an effort to curb rising chicken prices.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said retail prices for broiler chicken have climbed sharply in recent days, increasing by about 300 won (about $0.22) per kilogram over the past 10 days.
According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation’s price system, the average price rose from 6,252 won ($4.60) per kilogram on March 19 to 6,534 won ($4.80) on March 28. Peak prices rose from 7,182 won ($5.30) to 7,980 won ($5.90) over the same period.
Officials warned that rising chicken costs could lead to higher prices for fried chicken, a widely consumed food in South Korea, potentially pushing up overall dining-out inflation.
The ministry said it is in talks with the Netherlands over quarantine procedures for importing the eggs and is also considering Belgium as an alternative supplier if negotiations stall.
If talks are successful, imports could begin as early as early April. Combined with 778,000 eggs already imported from Spain in March, total imports would reach about 23 million eggs.
However, officials acknowledged that the measure may not provide immediate relief. It is expected to take about two months for the imported eggs to be hatched, raised and processed into chicken products available in stores.
The ministry is also reviewing measures to ask major poultry producers to refrain from raising prices during the period.
Two mothers stand with their children in downtown Seoul, South Korea, 25 February 2026. According to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the number of births in South Korea in December 2025 reached 20,003, an increase of 1,747, or 9.6 percent, compared to the same month a year earlier. Photo by JEON HEON-KYUN / EPA
March 30 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s fertility rate rose to 0.99 in January, nearing the symbolic threshold of 1.0, but experts warn the increase does not signal a sustained recovery.
Statistics Korea reported 26,916 births in January, the highest monthly figure in nearly seven years, while marriages also reached their highest level since 2018. The rise in marriages, a leading indicator of births, has raised expectations that birth numbers could continue to increase over the next two to three years.
Despite the uptick, analysts say the improvement reflects a temporary demographic effect rather than a fundamental shift. The increase is largely attributed to people born in the early 1990s entering peak childbearing years, boosting birth numbers in what is often referred to as an “echo boom.”
Experts caution that broader structural challenges – including population decline, rapid aging and regional depopulation – continue to worsen.
The government is planning to restructure its population policy framework in response. Officials aim to expand the Presidential Committee on Low Birthrate and Aging Society into a “population strategy committee” with broader authority covering labor supply, immigration and regional demographics.
The proposed body would also coordinate policies across ministries and be granted authority to review budgets in advance, signaling a shift toward more centralized management of population-related policies.
The policy approach itself is also expected to change. Rather than focusing solely on raising the birth rate, the government is moving toward strategies that assume continued population decline and aim to adapt to long-term demographic changes.
However, progress has been slow. The vice chair position of the presidential committee has remained vacant for about three months, and plans to expand and strengthen the organization have yet to gain momentum.
Experts say policy must focus less on short-term birth rate figures and more on underlying structural issues.
Ha Hye-young, a senior researcher at the National Assembly Research Service, pointed to Japan’s experience with regional revitalization policies, saying South Korea should adopt models that account for a shrinking population rather than attempting to reverse it.
Kim Jong-hoon, head of a population research institute, said South Korea faces a growing imbalance as the working-age population declines while the burden of supporting older generations increases. He added that many current policies amount to a “zero-sum” effort to attract residents from other regions rather than expanding the overall population base.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina congressman and governor whose political ascendancy was stalled by a 2009 affair, wants to return to Congress — again.
Just hours ahead of the deadline to do so, Sanford filed candidacy paperwork with state officials to run in the June 9 GOP primary for South Carolina’s 1st District seat, which he has held twice before.
Sanford’s first political office was in the 1st District. An outsider with almost no name recognition, he navigated a primary for the open seat, finishing second before winning the runoff. He served for six years before his outside run at governor, again pushing his way through a crowded primary, then knocking off the last Democrat to hold the office.
But his eight years were overshadowed by the Appalachian Trail, which became shorthand for Sanford’s disappearance to go to Argentina to see his lover. Sanford’s wife, family and his staff didn’t know where he was.
Beating back both an ethics inquiry and calls to resign, Sanford held fast, leaving office on his own terms.
In 2013, Sanford won back his old seat, beating 15 other candidates in a primary and runoff. He won two more full terms before falling to a GOP challenger in 2018 who had President Trump’s backing.
The seat would go on to flip to Democratic hands that fall for the first time in decades, won back by GOP Rep. Nancy Mace in 2020. Mace is running for governor this year.
Sanford, 65, also briefly ran for president in 2020, challenging Trump for the nomination in what he characterized as a “long shot” effort around warnings about the national debt. Some, including Sanford’s former gubernatorial staffers, initially questioned whether the effort was a serious one, positing that it might be an effort to stay relevant after the 2018 defeat.
Sanford dropped out of the contest just ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Sanford’s home state would ultimately opt not to hold a 2020 GOP presidential primary, clearing the way for Trump’s nomination in South Carolina.
Sanford did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Monday. True to the themes that have dominated his political thinking, an email release on Sanford’s candidacy focused on the national debt, with the candidate saying he felt 1st District voters wanted a representative “who is an advocate for financial sanity that has been lost in Washington for all too long.“
Since leaving the U.S. House, Sanford has hung onto more than $1.3 million in a federal campaign account, funds that he can now use in a primary already crowded with multiple Republican and Democratic candidates.
Kinnard and Collins write for the Associated Press.
South African sprinter Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic 800-metres champion, says the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) reinstatement of gender verification tests for the 2028 Los Angeles Games is “a disrespect for women”.
The hyperandrogenic athlete on Sunday also expressed her disappointment that the measure was taken under new IOC President Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe.
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“For me personally, for her being a woman coming from Africa, knowing how African women or women in the Global South are affected by that, of course it causes harm,” Semenya said in Cape Town on the sidelines of a sporting competition.
The IOC said on Thursday that only “biological females” will be allowed to compete in women’s events, preventing transgender women from competing.
The IOC had previously used chromosomal sex testing from 1968 to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics before abandoning it in 1999 under pressure from the scientific community, which questioned its effectiveness, and from its own athletes commission.
“It came as a failure, and that’s why it was dropped,” Semenya said.
“It’s like now we need to prove that we are worthy as women to take part in sports. That’s a disrespect for women.”
Semenya has become the symbol of the struggle of hyperandrogenic athletes, a battle on the athletics tracks and then in courtrooms, to assert her rights, which she has waged since her first world title in the 800m in 2009.
In 2025, she won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights in her seven-year legal fight against track and field’s sex eligibility rules.
The court’s highest chamber said in a 15-2 ruling that Semenya had some of her rights to a fair hearing violated before Switzerland’s Supreme Court, where she had appealed against a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It had ruled in favour of track’s international governing body, World Athletics.
The original case between Semenya and Monaco-based World Athletics was about whether female athletes who have specific medical conditions, a typically male chromosome pattern and naturally high testosterone levels, should be allowed to compete freely in women’s sports.
The European court’s ruling did not overturn the World Athletics rules that in effect ended Semenya’s career running the 800m after she had won two Olympic gold medals and three world titles since emerging on the global stage as a teenager in 2009.
IOC’s policy shift removes conflict with Trump
In a major shift of policy, the IOC is abandoning rules it brought in in 2021 that allowed individual federations to decide their own policy and is instead implementing a policy across all Olympic sports.
“Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females, determined on the basis of a one-time SRY gene screening,” the IOC said in a statement.
They will be carried out through a saliva sample, cheek swab or blood sample. It will be done once in an athlete’s lifetime.
“The policy we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts,” Coventry said.
“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat, so it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
The new policy removes a potential source of conflict between the IOC and United States President Donald Trump as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics comes onto the horizon.
Trump issued an executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sport soon after he returned to office in January 2025.
The US leader took credit for the IOC’s new policy in a post on his Truth Social network on Thursday.
“Congratulations to the International Olympic Committee on their decision to ban Men from Women’s Sports,” Trump wrote. “This is only happening because of my powerful Executive Order, standing up for Women and Girls!”
2024 Olympic gender row
While sports such as swimming, athletics, cycling and rowing have brought in bans, many others have permitted transgender women to compete in the female category if they lowered their testosterone levels, normally through taking a course of drugs.
The IOC is bringing in the new policy after the women’s boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics was rocked by a gender row involving Algerian fighter Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan.
Khelif and Lin were excluded from the International Boxing Association’s 2023 world championships after the IBA said they had failed eligibility tests.
However, the IOC allowed them both to compete at the Paris Games, saying they had been victims of “a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA”.
Both boxers went on to win gold medals.
Lin has since been cleared to compete in the female category at events run by World Boxing, the body that will oversee the sport at the Los Angeles Summer Games.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (3-R) offers a silent prayer at a national cemetery in Daejeon, South Korea, 27 March 2026, during a ceremony to mark the 11th anniversary of the commemoration day for 55 troops who died in three major clashes with North Korea in the West Sea, comprising an inter-Korean naval skirmish in 2002, North Korea’s torpedo attack on the corvette Cheonan in 2010 and its shelling of the border island of Yeonpyeong in the same year. Since 2016, the government has designated the fourth Friday of March as the commemoration day, known as the West Sea Defense Day. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
March 27 (Asia Today) — President Lee Jae-myung said Friday that building a peaceful Korean Peninsula while maintaining a strong defense is the historic mission left behind by South Korea’s fallen West Sea heroes.
Speaking at the 11th West Sea Defense Day ceremony at Daejeon National Cemetery, Lee said the 55 service members honored each year had protected not only a maritime boundary, but also the everyday peace South Koreans enjoy and the future their descendants deserve.
“Our task is to firmly protect our people and the territory of the Republic of Korea with strong national defense capabilities, while also building a peaceful Korean Peninsula free from the worries of war and hostility,” Lee said.
He said the waters defended by the fallen should no longer remain a symbol of conflict, but be turned into “a foundation of peace and prosperity.”
“Peace is our livelihood, and peace is the greatest security,” Lee said. “Winning a fight matters, but winning without fighting matters even more. More important still is a peace in which there is no need to fight.”
Lee said his government would work to end the legacy of confrontation and tension in the West Sea and open a new chapter of shared growth and prosperity.
He also paid tribute to the bereaved families, saying the government would remember the dead, preserve their record and honor them properly.
Lee said his administration was trying to close gaps in veterans support under the principle that special sacrifice deserves special compensation.
Beginning in May, spouses of financially struggling war veterans will receive monthly living support payments, he said.
Lee also said the government plans to expand the number of designated veterans medical institutions nationwide to 2,000 by 2030 so national meritorious persons can receive treatment more easily at nearby hospitals.
He said mandatory military service should be recognized as a legitimate social asset so former service members can take pride in their time in uniform.
To that end, Lee said the public sector will be required to count mandatory service periods when calculating pay grades and wages for discharged veterans.
West Sea Defense Day is a national commemoration honoring those killed in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong on June 29, 2002, the sinking of the Cheonan on March 26, 2010, and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island on Nov. 23, 2010.
Before the ceremony, Lee and first lady Kim Hye-kyung paid respects at the graves of those killed in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Yeonpyeong shelling, the 46 sailors killed in the Cheonan sinking and the late warrant officer Han Ju-ho.
U.S. Gen. Xavier Brunson (C), chief of the South Korea–U.S. Combined Forces Command, attends a combined exercise (maneuvering, wet gap crossing) with South Korean soldiers from the Lightning Brigade, Capital Mechanized Infantry Division and 7th Engineer Brigade, as part of the Freedom Shield 26 exercise, in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, South Korea, 14 March 2026. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), North Korea launched ballistic missiles into the east sea on 14 March as South Korea and the United States were conducting their military exercise. Photo by JEON HEON-KYUN/EPA
March 27 (Asia Today) — The United States and South Korea have established a new joint command unit aimed at integrating nuclear and conventional forces to strengthen deterrence against North Korea, according to defense officials.
The unit, known as J10, has been set up within U.S. Forces Korea headquarters at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek. It is designed to move beyond the traditional concept of a “nuclear umbrella” and enable real-time operational coordination between U.S. strategic assets and South Korean conventional forces.
Originally separated from the U.S. Forces Korea planning directorate in June 2024, J10 is led by a colonel-level commander and serves as a centralized command structure for combined nuclear and conventional operations.
Military experts said the creation of J10 marks a shift from declaratory deterrence to operational readiness, allowing faster execution of joint responses in the event of a North Korean nuclear threat.
The unit is expected to play a key role in implementing decisions made by the bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group established under the Washington Declaration, with the ability to coordinate immediate response measures from the Korean Peninsula.
J10 will oversee operational planning that aligns U.S. strategic assets – such as long-range bombers and nuclear-powered submarines – with South Korean support forces. It is also expected to match response options to specific North Korean threat scenarios to accelerate execution speed.
Previously, U.S. nuclear operations were largely managed by command structures based in the United States. The new arrangement places a dedicated coordination function on the Korean Peninsula, enabling continuous, real-time management of response planning.
Analysts said the move is intended to strengthen integration between South Korea’s “three-axis” defense system and U.S. nuclear capabilities, increasing military pressure on North Korea.
However, officials noted that the effectiveness of J10 will depend on the level of real-time intelligence sharing between the two allies.
A senior official described J10 as “the final piece” in building an integrated extended deterrence framework, adding that its capabilities will be tested in upcoming large-scale joint military exercises.
Iranian rescue workers have been pulling survivors and bodies out of a residential building in south Tehran after a US-Israeli missile strike. Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi was at the scene.
A container pier in South Korea’s southeastern port city of Busan, South Korea. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development cut South Korea’s 2026 growth forecast to 1.7% from 2.1%, citing the economic fallout from rising energy prices and supply disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East. File. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
March 26 (Asia Today) — The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development cut South Korea’s 2026 growth forecast to 1.7% from 2.1%, citing the economic fallout from rising energy prices and supply disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
The OECD released the revised outlook Thursday in its interim economic report, which said the conflict has disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, pushed up energy costs and added uncertainty to global demand.
South Korea’s downgrade of 0.4 percentage points was one of the largest among Group of 20 economies, according to the report. The OECD kept its 2027 growth forecast for South Korea unchanged at 2.1%.
The OECD also raised its forecast for South Korea’s inflation this year to 2.7%, up 0.9 percentage points from its previous projection. It said inflation is expected to ease to 2.0% next year as energy price pressures fade.
The report said countries that depend heavily on imported energy are especially vulnerable if the Middle East conflict drags on, as higher fuel costs can weigh on output and feed broader price pressures.
Despite the downgrade, the OECD said South Korea’s medium-term outlook remains relatively stable, with growth expected to recover next year if current energy disruptions prove temporary. The organization said its projections assume energy prices begin easing in mid-2026.
South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance said it would maintain emergency readiness, warning that the economic impact could widen if the Middle East war continues longer than expected.
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden on Thursday signed a bill into law requiring people registering in the state for the first time to prove their citizenship. File Photo by Graeme Sloan/EPA
March 26 (UPI) — South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden on Thursday signed six election-related bills, including one that requires newly registered voters to prove their citizenship.
The bills, which Rhoden, his administration and the state legislature said are meant to protect the integrity of the state’s elections, also affect campaign finance disclosures, publication of election results, processing of absentee ballots, publication of statewide voter registration files and the submission of nomination petitions.
The voter registration law, called the South Dakota SAVE Act, is one of several that states across the country have been considering as similar legislation has been the subject of heated debate in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
“In South Dakota, we do things right, especially when running out state elections,” Rhoden said in a press release.
“This bill ensures only citizens vote in state elections, keeping our elections safe and secure,” he said.
All six bills that Rhoden signed were named emergencies, which allows them to go into effect immediately, as opposed to July 1, when laws in South Dakota usually go into effect.
This will allow for the requirements to apply to the state’s June 2 primary elections, registration for which has a May 18 deadline, the South Dakota Searchlight reported.
The governor’s office said the state’s SAVE Act applies only to state elections and only to people who are registering to vote in South Dakota for the first time, and will need to show a passport, birth certificate or other document that proves they are a U.S. citizen.
South Dakota residents who are already registered do not need to take any action, and those who need to update their name, address or other information are not required to prove their U.S. citizenship.
“Noncitizens cannot vote in South Dakota — this bill is wholly unnecessary,” South Dakota Democratic state Rep. Erik Muckey said during debate of the bill, The New York Times reported.
Earlier this year, Rhoden also signed into law a bill that would allow voters to challenge the citizenship of other registered voters with a sign, sworn statement and some type of documented evidence.
That law will not take effect before the primary, but it will be effective during the general election in November.
President Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday. Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo
A week into the United States-Israeli war on Iran, and Iran’s attacks on its Gulf neighbours, Jaya Khuntia spoke – as he often did – to his Doha-based son Kuna on the phone.
It was March 6, about 10pm, and Khuntia and the family were worried. “He told me, ‘I am safe here, don’t worry,’” the father recalled from the conversation with Kuna.
It was the last time they spoke.
The next day, the family in Naikanipalli village of India’s eastern Odisha state received a phone call from Kuna’s roommate telling them that the son had suffered a heart attack after hearing the sound of missiles and debris from interceptions falling near their residence. He collapsed and was later declared dead. Kuna’s body reached home days later.
Al Jazeera cannot independently confirm the cause of Kuna’s death, but the family of the 25-year-old, who worked as a pipe fitter in Qatar’s capital, is among millions across South Asia directly affected by the war in the Middle East.
Of the eight people killed in the United Arab Emirates in Iranian attacks, two were Emirati military personnel, a third a Palestinian civilian, and the remaining five were from South Asia: Three from Pakistan, and one each from Bangladesh and Nepal. All three people killed in Oman were from India. An Indian national and a Bangladeshi national are the only deaths in Saudi Arabia.
Migrant workers from South Asia total nearly 21 million people in the Gulf nations, a third of the total population of the region. At stake, for their families back home, is the safety of their loved ones and the future of their dreams.
The Khuntia family had taken on a 300,000-rupee ($3200) debt in 2025 for the marriages of their two daughters. Kuna’s income in Doha – where he had moved only in late 2025 – of 35,000 rupees ($372) was helping them collect what they needed to pay back the loan. Kuna had been sending back about 15,000 rupees ($164) every month.
“We thought our suffering was finally ending,” Jaya said, his voice trembling. “My only son would say, ‘Baba, don’t worry, I am here.’ He was our only hope… our everything.”
That hope is now extinguished. “That one call finished us,” Jaya cried. “He promised to return after clearing our debts … but he came back in a coffin. We have nothing left now. Losing our only son is the biggest debt we have to live with.”
Kuna Khuntia, a 25-year-old pipe fitter from India’s Odisha, who died of a heart attack in Doha, Qatar [Photo courtesy the Khuntia family]
‘I thought we would be next’
In all, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – the six Arab countries in the Gulf – host 35 million foreign nationals, who form a majority of their total population, 62 million.
They include 9 million people from India, 5 million each from Pakistan and Bangladesh, 1.2 million from Nepal, and 650,000 from Sri Lanka. Most of them are engaged in blue-collar work, building or supporting the industries and services that are at the heart of the Gulf’s success and prosperity.
But since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran, these migrant workers have often been among the most vulnerable. That vulnerability extends beyond deaths and injuries to the very nature of their work: Oil refineries, construction areas, airports and docks, where many work, have been targeted in Iranian attacks.
The suspension of work at many of these facilities, coupled with fears of a major economic downturn in the region, has also left many workers and their families worried about the future of their jobs.
Hamza*, a Pakistani migrant labourer working at an oil storage facility in the UAE, recalled a recent attack that he witnessed. “A drone struck a storage unit right in front of us. We were completely shaken. Most of us there are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
“We couldn’t sleep for nights after that. The drone was so close that it could have killed us, too,” Hamza added. “For a moment, I thought we would be next.”
Despite these dangers, he said, leaving is not an option.
“We want to go back, but we can’t,” Hamza said. “Our families depend on us. It’s dangerous here, but if we stop working, they will have nothing to eat. We have no choice.”
Experts say Hamza’s sentiment is common across South Asian blue-collar workers in the Gulf, because of poverty and limited employment opportunities back home.
Imran Khan, a faculty member at the New Delhi Institute of Management working on migration economics, said migrant labourers from South Asia are often driven by desperation to take up jobs in the Middle East. He said Western countries have, in recent years, dramatically raised entry barriers for less-educated blue-collar foreign workers.
“These workers are the worst affected during crises – whether war or natural disasters,” he says. “I have been speaking to several migrant labourers, particularly Indians in the Middle East, and many are living in distress since the conflict began.”
But, like Hamza, most cannot afford to leave, Khan said.
“They cannot simply quit. Their income would stop immediately, and there are very limited opportunities back home,” he explained. “They have families to support, and without these jobs, survival becomes difficult.”
Indian labourers work at the construction site of a building in Riyadh, November 16, 2014 [Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters]
Families – and societies – that depend on remittances
Middle Eastern countries remain a key source of remittances for South Asian nations such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The remittances these five countries receive from the region, $103bn, are comparable to Oman’s total gross domestic product (GDP).
Just the remittances that India receives from the Gulf, $50bn, are more than Bahrain’s entire GDP. Pakistan receives $38.3bn in remittances, Bangladesh $13.5bn, Sri Lanka $8bn, and Nepal $5bn.
With the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East, experts warn these flows could be significantly affected, especially if Gulf economies contract and layoffs follow.
Faisal Abbas, an expert in international economics and director at the Centre of Excellence on Population and Wellbeing Studies, a Pakistan-based research institute, said remittances from the Middle East form a crucial economic backbone for South Asian nations, not just families.
“Remittances are a critical pillar for Pakistan and other South Asian economies, and a large share comes from Middle Eastern countries,” he explained. “If the situation worsens, it will not be a positive development for the region.”
Pakistan’s remittances from the Gulf constitute nearly 10 percent of its GDP, about $400bn.
Abbas added that the effect may extend beyond remittance flows. “Migration patterns could also be disrupted. Many workers may return home, while those planning to migrate might reconsider,” he said. “This could further increase unemployment in a region already facing job shortages.”
Unlike Hamza, a number of South Asian workers are planning to return home.
Noor*, a migrant worker from Bangladesh employed at an oil facility in Saudi Arabia, said he no longer feels safe and plans to return home once his contract ends.
“I will never come back here again,” he said. “It’s too dangerous. We can’t even sleep at night. The fear never leaves us.”
Noor said drone attacks had occurred close to his workplace. “We saw it happen in front of us,” he said. “That fear stays with you… It doesn’t go away.”
His family, too, is deeply affected. “My children cry every time they call me. They are scared for my life,” he added.
He said he knows that returning to Bangladesh would mean more economic hardship for his family. But Noor said he had made up his mind.
“I would rather go back and struggle to survive with my family than live here in constant fear,” he said. “At least there, I will be with them.”
*Some names have been changed at the request of workers who fear retribution from contractors for speaking to the media.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
South Korea today rolled out the first series-produced example of its homegrown KF-21 fighter. This major milestone in the program also underscores just how quickly it has progressed, with the rollout coming a little over five years since the first prototype of the fighter was unveiled. The development schedule is especially impressive when compared with other new-generation fighter programs, although Seoul has taken some notable shortcuts to meet this aggressive timeline.
An official Republic of Korea Air Force video commemorates the rollout of the first series-produced KF-21:
KF-21 양산 1호기 출고 | 불모의 땅에서 항공 강국으로
The first series-production KF-21 — also known as the Boramae, meaning hawk in Korean — is a two-seater, unveiled in a ceremony today at the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) headquarters in Sacheon, southeast of Seoul.
President Lee Jae Myung told guests that the fighter symbolized South Korea’s “aspirations for self-reliant defense,” and said he was committed to establishing the country as one of the world’s top four defense powers.
“South Korea has finally secured weapons to protect peace with its own technology, not only on land and sea but also in the air,” Lee added.
Rollout of the first series-production KF-21 at the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) headquarters in Sacheon, southeast of Seoul, today. Office of the President of South Korea
There is no doubt that South Korea is fast emerging as a major player when it comes to defense manufacturing, and, increasingly, this is reflected in high-profile exports, too.
As well as the KF-21, Lee also took time to mention the country’s K9 self-propelled howitzer and Cheongung surface-to-air missile system, both of which have secured lucrative foreign sales. In the military aircraft sector, KAI’s T-50/FA-50 advanced jet trainer/light combat aircraft has also proven a force to be reckoned with in terms of global sales.
President Lee Jae Myung speaks at the rollout of the first series-production KF-21 today. Office of the President of South Korea
Returning to the KF-21, the jet was developed to replace South Korea’s now-retired F-4E Phantom II and still-active F-5E/F Tiger II fighters.
The program was formally launched in 2016, followed by the roll-out of the first prototype in April 2021, and the first flight of a prototype in July 2022. In May 2023, the KF-21 was provisionally judged “fit for combat.”
A pilot disembarks the first prototype KF-21 at the rollout ceremony in Sacheon in April 2021. MBC News Screencap
A total of six prototypes have been built and flown, two of these being completed in the two-seat version of the jet.
Previously announced plans call for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) to receive 40 KF-21s by 2028 and have a full fleet of 120 aircraft deployed by 2032.
As to how South Korea got to this stage so fast, it has adopted a notably different approach from other next-generation fighter programs.
The KF-21 has never been billed as a fifth-generation fighter with all of the advanced features and capabilities that this entails. Instead, Seoul refers to it as a “4.5-generation fighter jet,” using nomenclature that’s more commonly used to define the new or significantly modernized fighters that appeared from the 1990s onward.
Unlike a ‘true’ fifth-generation fighter, the airframe design of the KF-21 is not primarily driven by stealth, and its level of sensor fusion is at a notably less advanced level than found in the F-35, for example.
For the ROKAF, a more austere fighter is less of an issue, since it is already receiving the U.S.-supplied F-35A.
A Republic of Korea Air Force F-35A fighter. U.S. Air Force
At the same time, the KF-21 will bring a host of advanced features that wouldn’t be out of place on a more ambitious design.
Concept artwork of a KF-21 armed with four semi-recessed Meteor air-to-air missiles, IRIS-T self-defense missiles, and a pair of JDAMs. MBDA
There is also scope for further improvements, which would bring the KF-21 up to a standard much closer to a fifth-generation jet.
In its initial form, the KF-21 carries its weapons externally or semi-conformally, although the future Block 3 version of the jet is planned to feature internal weapons bays.
Other advanced versions of the jet are also being considered, including an escort jamming platform, a concept for which was revealed at the rollout ceremony today.
🇰🇷KF-21EJ (Escort Jammer) / KF-21EX (true 5th-generation variant with internal weapons bay) Concept.These concepts were introduced in the rollout ceremony video of the first mass-produced KF-21, showcasing potential future evolutions of the platform—ranging from dedicated… https://t.co/j7BvtoZQ39pic.twitter.com/PRaAJHZWbW
South Korea is also embracing the concept of crewed/uncrewed teaming to further enhance the capabilities of the KF-21.
Seoul expects to have its KF-21s working closely with homegrown stealth drones, as a means of boosting the potential of the crewed fighter as well as maximizing “combat mass.” In this regard, the existence of a two-seat version should have particular benefits, with the rear cockpit accommodating a dedicated drone controller. You can read more about the concept here.
An official video shows a heavily armed KF-21 (complete with an external targeting pod) flying a mission with three stealthy drones. DAPA screencap
In terms of raw performance, the KF-21 is no slouch, either, with claims of better kinematic performance than an F-16C.
By avoiding some of the aspects of fighter development that traditionally consume exorbitant time and funds, KAI has managed to leapfrog many other potential rivals. At the same time, a gap of five years between the rollout of the prototype and the first series-produced example compares to roughly 11 years between the first flight of the prototype X-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the first flight of the first full-production airframe, F-35A AF-6.
On this day in 2011, AF-6 took off. 🚀 #DYK: AF-6, the first production F-35, completed its first flight on Feb. 25, 2011.
Today, this fifth-generation fighter continues to evolve, ensuring allied forces stay ahead of any threat. pic.twitter.com/3Dj2mz1ss7
For Russia, too, there was a full 10 years between the first flight of the prototype T-50 in 2010 and the first flight of the first full-production Su-57 Felon airframe in 2020.
That’s not to say that the KF-21 hasn’t faced any problems. In particular, there has been a tricky relationship with Indonesia, which joined the program as a junior partner before becoming locked in disputes over costs and workshares.
According to the latest reports, Seoul plans to sign a deal to export 16 KF-21s to Indonesia. Today, President Lee also said that South Korea would seek other partner nations to further strengthen the competitiveness of its defense industry, perhaps also including the KF-21.
A KF-21 prototype conducts a test flight during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2025) at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on October 17, 2025. Photo by Chris Jung/NurPhoto Chris Jung
Increasingly, South Korea is developing a wide range of locally made air-launched weapons, avoiding reliance on arms imports and, at the same time, allowing Seoul to offer these for export itself without facing potential restrictions like the U.S. government’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
With South Korea’s growing pedigree as a supplier of higher-end arms, the KF-21 could well become a very attractive export prospect. In the meantime, however, the rollout of the series-produced jet brings the first delivery to the ROKAF a step closer and, with it, underscores the continued modernization of the air arm.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, South Korea’s point man on inter-Korean relations, attends a ceremony to mark his inauguration at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, 25 July 2025. File. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
March 25 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s unification minister called for a shift in policy toward “peaceful coexistence” with North Korea, emphasizing that the approach does not mean abandoning unification but rather institutionalizing peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young made the remarks Wednesday during an academic conference co-hosted by the ministry and a state-run research institute, where officials and experts discussed ways to end hostilities and establish a lasting peace framework.
Chung said Seoul should redesign its Korean Peninsula policy with peaceful coexistence at the center, arguing that formalizing stable relations between the two Koreas could open the door to broader dialogue.
“This is not about giving up unification, but about institutionalizing peace,” Chung said. “If peaceful coexistence is established politically, economically and legally, any issue between the two sides can be addressed.”
He added that discussions among relevant countries on building a peace regime, alongside a basic inter-Korean agreement, would be key to resolving long-standing tensions.
Chung also described North Korea’s recent push for a “two hostile states” framework as a structural shift that should be turned into an opportunity to move beyond confrontation.
“We must end the hostility and conflict that have devastated inter-Korean relations and create a relationship where there is no need to fight,” he said.
The minister avoided directly using the term “North Korea” during his remarks, instead referring to “the North” and its formal state name, a choice some analysts interpret as reflecting a more conciliatory tone.
Chung reiterated that the Korean Peninsula remains technically at war and said the starting point for peace is formally ending the conflict. He stressed that improving relations between Pyongyang and Washington would be essential and urged North Korea not to miss opportunities for dialogue with the United States.
He also said the South Korean government would act as a “pacesetter” to help sustain momentum for U.S.-North Korea talks while fulfilling its role as a key stakeholder in peninsula affairs.
At the same event, former intelligence chief Seo Hoon underscored the continued relevance of a “top-down” approach centered on leader-level diplomacy.
“The more uncertain and difficult the conditions, the more powerful summit diplomacy becomes,” Seo said, calling for a potential fourth meeting between U.S. and North Korean leaders.
Seo noted that past summit diplomacy led to repeated exchanges between former U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, arguing that even limited agreements or renewed dialogue could be meaningful steps forward.
As the United States-Israeli war with Iran sends tremors through the global economy, the poorest members of the Global South are the most exposed to the fallout.
In Asia, Africa and the Middle East, developing economies are bearing the brunt of surging energy costs prompted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on oil and gas facilities across the Gulf.
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From Pakistan to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, through to Jordan, Egypt and Ethiopia, policymakers are facing the double whammy of being both heavily dependent on imported energy and having limited financial firepower to absorb the shock of spiking prices.
In Pakistan, which imports about 80 percent of its energy from the Gulf and has lurched between economic crises for years, authorities have scrambled to roll out measures to conserve fuel.
Facing the depletion of the country’s petrol and diesel reserves within weeks, officials have closed schools, introduced a four-day working week for government offices, ordered half of the country’s public sector employees to work from home, and slashed fuel allowances for official business.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said last week that he had decided against a proposed hike in petrol and diesel prices before the Eid Al-Fitr celebration, saying the government would “bear the burden” of rising costs.
Sharif’s announcement came after the government had earlier this month approved a 55 rupee ($0.20) rise in the price of a litre (0.26 gallons) of petrol or diesel.
While government subsidies have helped cushion the blow for the public, there are fears that petroleum prices will surge and bring economic activity to a halt if the war drags on, said S Akbar Zaidi, the executive director of the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi.
“The overall shock is quite severe, although it has not been fully passed on to consumers and to industry,” Zaidi said.
“I expect the next few weeks to make things far worse once the disruption and price factors pass through.”
A man gets his motorcycle refuelled at a petrol station in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 9, 2026 [Munir Uz Zaman/AFP]
In Bangladesh, which imports about 95 percent of its oil and is expected to run through its fuel reserves within days, petrol pumps in some districts have run dry despite the introduction of fuel rationing.
Sri Lanka, which imports about 60 percent of its energy needs and is still reeling from an economic meltdown that began in 2019, has declared every Wednesday a public holiday and introduced a mandatory fuel pass for vehicle owners to conserve petrol and diesel, stockpiles of which are projected to run dry within weeks.
In Egypt, one of the biggest energy importers and among the most indebted economies in the Middle East, the government has ordered malls, shops and cafes to close by 9pm on weekdays and 10pm during weekends, and cut back on public lighting.
Facing growing pressure on public finances due to the government’s heavy subsidisation of fuel prices, Egyptian officials on March 10 announced price hikes of between 15 and 22 percent for petrol, diesel and cooking gas.
While acknowledging the burden on the public, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said the move was necessary to avoid “harsher and more dangerous outcomes”.
“For a majority of developing economies, especially those already grappling with debt and high import dependence, they are facing a potent mix of inflation, currency pressures and fiscal strains,” said Yeah Kim Leng, a professor of economics at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“The hardest hit are net energy and food importers, especially those with fragile macroeconomic foundations and pre-existing vulnerabilities that typified countries with low per capita income and high poverty rates,” Yeah added.
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Ethiopia and Zambia are among the most at risk, according to a recent analysis by the Washington-based Centre for Global Development, which looked at factors including dependence on fuel imports, public debt levels and foreign exchange reserve/import ratios.
Currency depreciation
The weakening of many developing countries’ currencies against the US dollar – the result of investors buying the greenback amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty – has compounded the situation by further driving up costs.
“Countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines have already seen their currencies at near record lows even before the start of the conflict, making imports, including oil, much more expensive,” said Azizul Amiludin, a non-resident senior fellow at the Malaysia Institute of Economic Research in Kuala Lumpur.
Much as the fallout of the war poses particular challenges for governments in developing countries, the effect on citizens is disproportionate, too.
In less advanced economies, citizens spend much more of their pay cheques on fuel and food, leaving them more exposed to rising living costs.
At the same time, governments in developing countries have less capacity to provide a safety net for those at risk of falling through the cracks.
“In vulnerable economies, governments often attempt to shield their populations from price hikes by subsidising fuel and food,” said Yeah, the Jeffrey Cheah Institute professor.
“However, with depleted fiscal buffers and shrinking revenues, this becomes unsustainable. The ensuing austerity, combined with hyperinflation, can trigger widespread social unrest and a full-blown fiscal crisis.”
Motorcyclists crowd a filling station and wait their turn to get fuel, in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 6, 2026 [K M Chaudary/AP]
With the US and Israel barely a month into their war and no clear timetable for its end in sight, many analysts expect things to get worse before they get better.
Khalid Waleed, a research fellow at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Islamabad, said rising transport costs would soon be felt at supermarket checkouts.
“Diesel is the backbone of Pakistan’s freight and agricultural economy,” Waleed said.
“Trucking costs have started climbing, and that will feed into everything from flour to fertiliser in the weeks ahead.”
Once Pakistan’s wheat harvest gets under way in April, food prices could spike well beyond their current levels, Waleed said.
“Combine harvesters, threshers, tractors for haulage from field to market, and the trucks that move grain from fields to flour mills and storage facilities all run on high-speed diesel,” he said.
“For a country where wheat flour is the single largest item in the food basket of the bottom two income quintiles, this is not a marginal concern,” Waleed added.
“If diesel prices stay elevated through April and May, Pakistan will harvest its wheat at the most expensive input cost in years, and that cost will transmit directly into food inflation at a time when households have almost no capacity left to absorb further price shocks.”
No. 9 USC struggles to contain Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot and commits 27 turnovers in a 101-61 loss to South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Monday night served as a litmus test for ninth-seeded USC to see how a program on its way back to prominence measured up against top-seeded powerhouse South Carolina.
The Trojans were no match in the frontcourt against South Carolina, suffering 101-61 season-ending loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot got going early, scoring nine of the Gamecocks’ first 11 points. South Carolina would finish the game with 60 points in the paint. Edwards finished the game with 23 points and 10 rebounds and Okot had 15 points and 15 rebounds.
USC freshman Jazzy Davidson, who scored a phenomenal 31 points in her NCAA tournament debut Saturday against Clemson, missed her first two shots. But she recovered and found some offensive rhythm, finishing with 16 points. Kennedy Smith picked up the slack in the first half, scoring nine of USC’s first 15 points. Unfortunately, she struggled after that and finished four for 15 from the floor.
Londynn Jones was a spark off the bench for USC, finishing with 20 points to lead the Trojans.
South Carolina, meanwhile, will play No. 4 Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 on Saturday.
Davidson hit a three with 3:54 left in the first half that seemed to give the Trojans some life despite a 14-point deficit. However, things just got worse — USC (18-14) turned it over six times before halftime. South Carolina (33-3), meanwhile, went on a 16-0 run to take a 51-21 halftime lead.
“You know, you can lose, you can not necessarily be as good as a team, but I thought we were conceding,” USC coach Lindsey Gottlieb said after the game. “You don’t need to throw the ball away to the team. We had some careless things that I wasn’t pleased with and just wanted to see a different competitive level in the second half.”
The second half was not easy on USC, with South Carolina forcing three more turnovers in the first three minutes. The Trojans finished with 27 turnovers, which South Carolina converted into 29 points.
USC guard Jazzy Davidson battles South Carolina guard Raven Johnson for a loose ball during the first half of the Gamecocks’ win Monday in Columbia, S.C.
(Nell Redmond / Associated Press)
“They’re an elite defensive team, there’s no doubt about that. They have been all season. That’s definitely a huge part of their identity,” Davidson said of the Gamecocks. “We just had to be tougher with the ball throughout the game. The turnovers were another big thing for us just as a group.”
South Carolina also won the rebound battle 43-27, which compounded USC’s problems.
“I think we needed just a little bit better ball pressure. We just really didn’t box out well, either,” Smith said. “They had a lot of o-boards, I think Okot had about seven in the first quarter, so just trying to limit that is something I don’t think we did very well. I feel like going into the third and fourth quarter we did a little bit better, but we were in a little too deep.”
A tearful Davidson spoke about the influence Kara Dunn and Jones had on her as a player and a person during a short time. She added that said she’s excited to get back in the gym and return next season as an improved player.
USC guard Kennedy Smith drives under pressure from South Carolina guard Ayla McDowell Monday in Columbia, S.C.
(Nell Redmond / Associated Press)
“I need to get better. That’s kind of the bottom line,” Davidson said. “I think, obviously, it’s hard to lose in general, but losing this way really sucks, and I think I could have done a lot better for my team today.”
Gottlieb said there’s no doubt in her mind that Davidson will bounce back. She’ll have the benefit of playing alongside star JuJu Watkins, who sat out this season while recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
“Jazzy has, in particular, taken on every single thing this season and grown from it. That’s going to be part of her greatness,” she said. “I think she and I will look back at this day when we took a butt-kicking her freshman year in an NCAA tournament, and it will be very, very different at some point. And I think that’s because of how she’s handled every single situation.”
WHILE most Brits are busy planning their summer holidays right now, the clever ones are thinking further ahead.
Club Med has just launched its Winter 2026/27 Sale, and all you’ll need to pay right now is a £150-per-person deposit – but you’ll need to act fast.
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Club Med is offering savings of up to 20% across holiday packages in South Africa, the Dominican Republic and other top destinations
Club Med Winter 2026/7 Sale: Pay £150pp deposit
The Club Med sale, which runs until midnight on Friday (27th March), offers tiered discounts across a huge range of sunny destinations for departures between November 2026 and May 2027.
Nobody can be blamed for not thinking ahead to next winter: we’re barely out of the last one, after all.
But this is a great chance to guarantee some much-needed winter sunshine and – just as crucially – futureproof your next big holiday against the rising costs that have been predicted amid surging prices and cancelled flights.
Club Med tends to run very short-term deals on its packages; the last one we spotted was back in February, on ski holidays in the Alps.
In this new flash sale, you can save up to 15% on Superior rooms, while Deluxe rooms, Suites and Villas are slashed by 20%.
It is particularly good news for families, with kids under six staying for free and the largest discounts applied to high-capacity villas.
There’s also a brand-new South Africa resort available to book, where thrill-seekers can surf the waves or fly over sugarcane fields on a trapeze.
You can even add a safari at the Vikela Safari Lodge to spot Africa’s legendary Big Five game animals (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo).
Families looking for a tropical paradise may prefer Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, which features a dedicated acrobatics playground and white-sand beaches.
Parents can even treat themselves to the Tiara space, where free Champagne is served every evening from 6 pm.
Couples can escape to Marrakech La Palmeraie, tucked away in Morocco’s oldest palm grove, with tranquil courtyards and top-tier food.
If you want to dodge the noise of the city’s souks, the Riad Luxury Space offers a private oasis for an intimate getaway.
Best of all, you don’t need a huge layout to secure these rates.
A low deposit of just £150 per person locks in the current price, protecting your 2027 holiday budget against future price increases.
Club Med Sun resorts on sale this week
From gorgeous Caribbean islands to bustling desert retreats, there’s a massive selection of world-class resorts included in Club Med’s sale.
An illustration shows slowing growth in South Korean banks’ payment guarantees alongside a rising won-dollar exchange rate. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI
March 22 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s four largest banks are tightening corporate payment guarantees as exporters face mounting pressure from U.S. tariffs and a prolonged period of high exchange rates.
The combined value of guarantees issued by KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank and Woori Bank reached 79.2 trillion won (about $59 billion) at the end of last year, up 3.9% from a year earlier, according to financial industry data.
The increase marks a sharp slowdown compared with double-digit growth in previous years, reflecting a more cautious approach by banks amid rising economic uncertainty.
Banks have scaled back new guarantees as U.S. tariff policies weigh on export profitability and a weaker won raises costs for companies. The won-dollar exchange rate has hovered around 1,500 won, adding further pressure on corporate balance sheets.
Payment guarantees, commonly used by exporters, allow companies to secure financing or complete trade transactions by relying on a bank’s credit backing. If a company defaults, the bank assumes the repayment obligation.
Industry data show that firm guarantees – where the amount is fixed and the bank assumes the debt – rose 8.5% to 60.9 trillion won (about $45 billion), while contingent guarantees fell 8.8% to 18.3 trillion won (about $13.7 billion).
Analysts said banks are favoring lower-risk transactions and reducing exposure to more complex contingent guarantees, which are harder to manage.
The slowdown also reflects weaker demand. Large exporters, which drove much of last year’s trade growth, often do not require bank guarantees, while rising delinquency risks have prompted lenders to focus on balance sheet stability.
Looking ahead, growth in guarantees is expected to remain subdued as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and global logistics disruptions continue to weigh on trade.
A prolonged period of high exchange rates could further increase risks, as most guarantees are denominated in foreign currencies, meaning their value rises in won terms even without new issuance.
Experts say stabilizing the foreign exchange market and expanding trade finance support will be key to preventing broader financial strain on companies.
President Donald Trump (R) makes remarks as he stands with Prime Minster Sanae Takaichi of Japan during a dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Earlier in the day, the President and Takeuchi exchanged views on Iran, energy, and issues in the Indo-Pacific region. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo
March 22 (Asia Today) — South Korea should maintain “strategic ambiguity” in responding to U.S. pressure over the Middle East crisis, experts said, as tensions surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz intensify.
The call comes after Donald Trump urged allies including South Korea, Japan and European partners to play a greater role following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, raising concerns in Seoul about balancing its alliance with Washington and broader diplomatic interests.
South Korean officials said they are taking a cautious approach and have not received formal requests from the United States regarding potential military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.
The government is focusing on assessing the intent behind Trump’s remarks while weighing the risks of deeper involvement in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route, has long been vulnerable to disruption. Analysts say any effort to secure maritime traffic would likely require multinational coordination rather than unilateral action.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations recently condemned Iran’s attacks on civilian infrastructure and said they are prepared to take steps to support global energy supplies, though the timing of any direct action remains unclear.
A Foreign Ministry official said stability in Middle Eastern shipping lanes is vital for South Korea and other major economies, noting that ensuring safe passage is a challenge that cannot be addressed by a single country.
Experts pointed to Japan’s approach under Sanae Takaichi as a potential model. Tokyo has prioritized its alliance with the United States while limiting direct military involvement, balancing energy security, international law and domestic public opinion.
Lee Ki-tae, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute, said South Korea should similarly avoid automatic military intervention and instead preserve flexibility.
“Maintaining strategic ambiguity allows South Korea to uphold its alliance while avoiding immediate alignment with any one side,” he said.
Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha Womans University, said logistical and political constraints also support a cautious stance. He noted that deploying naval forces would require parliamentary approval, a process that could take about two months.
He added that evolving and sometimes inconsistent messaging from Washington further underscores the need for careful deliberation.
![Kuna Khuntia, a 25-year-old pipe fitter from India's Odisha, who died of a heart attack in Doha Qatar [Photo courtesy the Khuntia family]](https://i0.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Kuna-Khuntia-1774503793.jpeg?w=640&ssl=1)
