Portal:Current events

Disasters and accidents

• At least 10 people are killed and 11 others are injured in a massive fire at the Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, India. (Hindustan Times) (NDTV)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Middle Eastern crisis
  • 2026 Iran war
    • 2026 Iranian strikes on Kuwait
      • An Italian MQ-9 Reaper is destroyed in an Iranian drone strike on Ali Al Salem base, Kuwait. (ANSA)
• Israeli–Palestinian conflict
  • Gaza war
    • Eight police officers, including the police chief of the Deir al-Balah Governorate, are killed by an Israeli attack on a police vehicle in Az-Zawayda, Palestine. (AFP via Business Recorder)

Arts and culture

• 98th Academy Awards
  • The film One Battle After Another wins six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and the inaugural Achievement in Casting award. (AP) (Reuters)
  • The film Sinners wins four Academy Awards following a record 16 nominations, with Ryan Coogler for original screenplay, Michael B. Jordan for lead actor, Autumn Durald Arkapaw for cinematography, and Ludwig Göransson for score. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
  • Japan announces it will start releasing 80 million barrels of oil from its reserves, the largest such release in the country's history, in response to disruptions in the oil supply caused by the conflict. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

• 2026 Kenya floods
  • The death toll from severe flooding in Kenya rises to 66, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society. (BBC News)

Health and enviornment

• Two people are killed and 11 others are hospitalized in serious condition following a meningitis outbreak at the University of Kent in Canterbury, Kent, England. (BBC News)

Politics and elections

• 2026 French municipal elections
  • The first round of municipal elections is taking place in France. (Reuters)
• 2026 Kazakh constitutional referendum
  • Kazakhstanis vote in a referendum to approve a new constitution. (Reuters)
• 2026 North Korean parliamentary election
  • North Koreans vote to elect the 687 members of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly. (The Diplomat)
• 2026 Republic of the Congo presidential election
  • Congolese people vote to elect a president, with incumbent Denis Sassou Nguesso seeking a fifth consecutive term. (Reuters)
• 2026 Vietnamese legislative election
  • Vietnamese citizens vote to elect the 500 members of the 16th National Assembly. The sole legal party contesting the election is the Communist Party. (Reuters)

Sports

• 2026 Winter Paralympics
  • 2026 Winter Paralympics closing ceremony
    • The Winter Paralympics conclude in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with China as the highest-ranked team in the medal table. The Paralympic flag is handed over to the organizers of the 2030 Winter Paralympics to be held in the French Alps. (AFP via France 24)
  • In para ice hockey, the United States defeats Canada 6–2, completing the three-peat of hockey championships at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Italy. (AP)
• 2026 Formula One World Championship
  • 2026 Chinese Grand Prix
    • In auto racing, Mercedes-Benz driver Kimi Antonelli wins his first Formula One Grand Prix, having won the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix. (AFP via France 24)
• 2026 FC Barcelona presidential election
  • In association football, Joan Laporta is re-elected president of FC Barcelona. (ESPN)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Middle Eastern crisis
  • 2026 Iran war
    • 2026 Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia
      • Five U.S. warplanes are damaged in an Iranian drone strike on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. (The Wall Street Journal)
    • 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
      • United States president Donald Trump calls on the country's allies to help lift the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. (BBC News)
    • Fifteen people are killed in a reported Israeli and United States missile strike on an HVAC factory in Isfahan, Iran. (AFP via LBCI)
    • Three Kuwaiti soldiers are injured after two drones struck Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, damaging the facility. (AFP via The Times of Israel)
    • The port of Fujairah, a bunkering hub and export terminal in the Emirate of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, suffers a drone attack. UAE authorities report that its air defence intercepted nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones. (Reuters) (Gulf News)
    • The U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, is hit by a missile from an unknown origin. (Politico)
    • Palestinian militant group Hamas calls for Iran to cease their attacks on Middle East neighbors during the war. They also reaffirm Tehran's right to defend itself from Israel and the United States. (CBS News)
  • Hezbollah–Israel conflict
    • 2026 Lebanon war
      • Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks in the coming days amidst the reignited war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Reuters)
• Gaza war
  • Israeli incursions in the West Bank during the Gaza war
    • Four people are killed and two others are injured when Israel Defense Forces soldiers open fire on a civilian car in northern Israeli-occupied West Bank. (Hindustan Times)
• Russo-Ukrainian war
  • Russian attacks on civilians in the Russo-Ukrainian war, Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
    • Five people are killed and three others are injured in Russian drone strikes on residential areas and critical infrastructure across Ukraine. (Reuters)
• 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict
  • According to Taliban officials, fourteen Pakistani soldiers are killed and eleven others are injured by Afghan fighters during the capture of a Pakistani guard post along the Durand Line in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. (Kabul Now)

Law and crime

• 2026 Cuban crisis
  • Cuban authorities arrest five people after a small group of protesters damaged and set fire to a Communist Party office in Morón, Ciego de Ávila Province, during demonstrations over prolonged blackouts and shortages of basic goods. (AFP via Jamaica Observer)
• Antisemitism in Europe
  • An explosion lightly damages a Jewish school in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with no reported injuries, making it the third attack against Jewish buildings in the Low Countries this week. (Euronews)
• Ecuadorian conflict
  • Ecuador begins enforcing a curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Los Ríos, and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas to support military operations against criminal organizations. (Reuters)

Sports

• Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
  • 2026 Formula One World Championship
    • In auto racing, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile cancels the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, both scheduled to occur in April, due to safety concerns amid the Iran war. (AFP via France 24)
• 2025–26 Premier League
  • In association football, English attacking midfielder Max Dowman scores for Arsenal in a 2–0 win over Everton to become the youngest ever goal scorer in Premier League history at 16 years and 73 days old. (Sky Sports)
• 2026 Six Nations Championship
  • In rugby union, France defeats England 48–46 to win the Six Nations Championship in the final. (The Guardian)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Middle Eastern crisis
  • 2026 Iran war
    • 2026 interceptions of Iranian missiles in Turkey
      • Turkey intercepts an Iranian ballistic missile violating its airspace. (Türkiye Today) (Caspian Post)
    • 2026 Iranian strikes on Israel
      • At least 58 people are injured by an Iranian ballistic missile strike on northern Israel. (The Jerusalem Post)
    • 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
      • United States president Donald Trump says that U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on military targets on Kharg Island, Iran, and warns that the U.S. may also target the island's oil infrastructure if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted. (AFP via ABS-CBN News)
    • Sinking of IRIS Dena
      • Sri Lanka repatriates the bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed when the frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by a United States submarine off the coast of Galle on 4 March. Thirty-two rescued sailors remain in Sri Lanka while authorities continue to host other Iranian naval personnel under humanitarian arrangements. (AFP via RFI)
    • U.S. officials say a marine expeditionary unit of 5,000 marines and sailors will deploy to the Persian Gulf to reinforce existing forces stationed in the region. (The Wall Street Journal) (Forbes)
  • 2026 Lebanon war
    • Twelve medical staff members, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, are killed in an Israeli airstrike against a medical facility in Burj Qalaouiyah, Bint Jbeil District, Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
  • Two migrant workers are killed and several other people are injured after security forces intercept a drone in an industrial area in Sohar, Oman. (AFP via Daily Sun)
  • The Saudi Arabian defense ministry reports that air defenses intercepted and destroyed 56 hostile drones targeting several areas across the country. (Saudi Gazette)
• 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict
  • Six people are killed and several others injured in a Pakistani airstrike on a residential area in Kabul, Afghanistan. A fuel depot in Kandahar is also bombed. (Reuters)
• Sudanese civil war
  • Eleven people are killed and 20 others are injured in a drone strike on a fuel reserve in western Sudan. (Reuters)
• Nigerian bandit conflict
  • Armed men ambush and kill twenty security personnel, including two senior military officers, in Plateau State, Nigeria. (AP)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
  • Saudi Arabia cuts oil production by 20% after the shutdown of two offshore oil fields, including Safaniya. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

• The United States military confirms that all six crew members aboard an Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker died when the aircraft crashed in western Iraq yesterday. (AFP via The Times of Israel)

International relations

• 2026 Cuban crisis, Cuba–United States relations
  • Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel confirms that Cuba is in talks with the U.S. to find solutions to the oil blockade in his country. (BBC News)
• El Salvador–United States relations, Nuclear power in El Salvador
  • El Salvador and the United States sign Agreement 123 under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to build a nuclear power plant in El Salvador that is planned to be operational by 2030. (El Mundo in Spanish)

Law and crime

• Illegal drug trade in Latin America
  • Bolivian authorities arrest suspected Uruguayan drug cartel leader Sebastián Marset during a police operation in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Marset, who is wanted by several countries and has a US$2 million reward linked to money laundering allegations, is detained along with four other individuals. (AFP via France 24)

Politics and elections

• 2025–2026 Iranian protests
  • The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warns of a stronger response than in January if new protests against the regime erupt. (AFP via Al Arabiya)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Middle Eastern crisis
  • 2026 Iran war
    • 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
      • Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei issues his first public message since his election in which he says that Iran should continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz and advises neighboring countries to close American military bases in their territory. Khamenei also vows to "avenge the blood of our martyrs". (BBC News) (Los Angeles Times)
      • German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd says that projectile ​fragments ​hit the Liberia-flagged container vessel Source Blessing ⁠near the ​Strait. (Reuters)
      • Oman orders the evacuation of vessels from the Mina Al Fahal oil port. (Oil Price)
    • 2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain
      • An Iranian strike hits fuel storage tanks at a facility in Muharraq Governorate, Bahrain. (Qatar News Agency)
    • 2026 Iranian strikes on Kuwait
      • Kuwait International Airport is targeted by several drones, causing material damage but no injuries. (NDTV)
    • 2026 Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia
      • The Saudi defense ministry announces the interception of two missiles and the destruction of seven drones. (Qatar News Agency)
    • 2026 Iranian strikes on the Kurdistan Region
      • A French soldier is killed and six others are injured in an Iranian drone attack on a military base in Erbil, Iraq. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)
  • Hezbollah–Israel conflict
    • 2026 Lebanon war
      • Eight people are killed and 31 more injured by an Israeli airstrike on the Ramlet al-Baida beach in central Beirut, Lebanon. Seven more people are also killed in other attacks in the country. (Al Jazeera)
      • Hezbollah launches over 200 rockets and 20 UAVs at northern Israel, injuring two people. (The Times of Israel)
  • At least 20 people are killed in an airstrike targeting a Popular Mobilization Forces building in Akashat, Iraq. (Sky News)
• Sudanese civil war
  • Darfur campaign
    • Four people are killed and over 24 others are injured, including seven children, in a drone strike on a market near the Chad–Sudan border in Darfur, Sudan. (CTV News)
  • The Italian military base in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, is struck by a missile, with no casualties of injuries reported. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Arts and culture

• Chilean architect Smiljan Radić receives the 2026 Pritzker Architecture Prize, recognizing his contributions to contemporary architecture. (AFP via France 24)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war, Embargo of Russian oil during the Russo-Ukrainian war
  • The United States treasury department issues a temporary license permitting the delivery and sale of Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded onto vessels before March 12, easing sanctions on such shipments until April 11 amid rising global energy prices. (AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer)
• German economic crisis
  • The Lufthansa pilot union announces a 48-hour strike for all flights departing German airports until Saturday over ongoing disputes about pensions, causing major delays. (The Independent)

Disasters and accidents

• At least 102 people are killed and one person is rescued after a series of landslides in the Gamo Zone of Ethiopia. (Ethiopia Observer) (AP)
• Eight people are killed after an artisanal mine collapses in Ouham-Pendé, Central African Republic. (AP)
• At least four crew members are killed when a United States Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker carrying six crew members crashes after an incident involving another aircraft in western Iraq. (BNO News) (BBC News)

International relations

• Gaza genocide
  • South Africa's genocide case against Israel
    • Iceland and the Netherlands announce they will both intervene on the side of South Africa in the International Court of Justice's genocide case against Israel. (The Express Tribune)
• Arctic policy of Canada, NATO Arctic Sentry, Polar Icebreaker Project
  • Canadian prime minister Mark Carney announces nearly CAN$35 billion (US$25.7 ‌billion) in funding to strengthen Canada's Arctic infrastructure, including upgrades to military facilities and the construction of new icebreakers to expand the country's operational capacity in the region. (AFP via France 24)
• Brazil–United States relations, Arrest of Jair Bolsonaro
  • Brazilian Supreme Federal Court justice Alexandre de Moraes denies a request by imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro to receive a visit from American diplomat Darren Beattie, ruling that the meeting falls outside the diplomatic purposes stated in Beattie's visa authorization. (Reuters)
• Cuba–Holy See relations
  • Cuba announces plans to release 51 prisoners following discussions with the Holy See, stating that the detainees have served most of their sentences and demonstrated good conduct. (AFP via Indo Premier)
• Hungary–Ukraine relations
  • Hungary returns two seized armored cars to Ukraine but retains approximately US$82 million in cash and gold as authorities investigate suspected money laundering. (Reuters)
• Iran–Thailand relations, 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
  • Thailand summons Iran's ambassador, demanding an apology and an explanation for the attack on the bulk carrier MV Mayuree Naree in the waters of the Strait the previous day. (BERNAMA)

Law and crime

• 2026 Old Dominion University shooting
  • Two people are killed, including the perpetrator, and two other people are critically injured in a school shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. (CNN) (WAVY-TV)
• Crocus City Hall attack
  • A Russian military court sentences 19 people for their involvement in the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, in 2024. Fifteen of those are sentenced to life in prison while the other four are given between 19 and 22 years in prison. (BBC News)
• Human rights in Indonesia
  • Two unidentified men assault and injure the deputy director of KontraS, an Indonesian human rights organization, in an acid attack in central Jakarta. (AFP via CNA) (Tempo English)
• Temple Israel synagogue attack
  • The perpetrator is killed and 31 others are injured in a shooting and vehicle-ramming attack at the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, United States. (CNN)
• Sanctions during the Venezuelan crisis
  • The International Criminal Court at The Hague dismisses an investigation into whether U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan officials qualify as crimes against humanity. (AP)
• A rabbi is seriously injured in a stabbing in Ramat Gan, Israel, as local police suspect a terrorist motive. (The Times of Israel)
• The Israeli military drops charges against five soldiers accused of raping a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention camp. (AP)

Politics and elections

• 2026 Nepalese general election
  • The Nepalese election commission releases the official results of the recent election, with Balen Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party winning 182 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives. The result gives the party a majority in the House and places it two seats short of a supermajority. (AFP via The Hindu)
• Polish president Karol Nawrocki announces that he will veto legislation enabling Poland to access €43.7 billion (US$50.3 billion) in European Union loans under the Security Action for Europe program to fund military spending. (Reuters)

Sports

• 2025–26 NBA season
  • In basketball, Oklahoma City Thunder player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander breaks the NBA record set by Wilt Chamberlain for most consecutive 20-point games with 127 games. (ESPN)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Middle Eastern crisis
  • 2026 Iran war
    • 2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations
      • Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian lists preconditions for ending the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States. The conditions include recognizing Iran's legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm international guarantees against future aggression. (Xinhua)
    • 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
      • The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier MV Mayuree Naree is hit by two Iranian missiles shortly after passing the Strait of Hormuz. Twenty people are rescued and three are reported missing after the vessel catches on fire. (Reuters)
      • Two cargo vessels, the Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, operated by Star Bulk Carriers, and the Japan-flagged ONE Majesty, operated by Mitsui OSK Lines, are struck by unknown projectiles, with no casualties reported. (Kathimerini)
      • A bulk carrier is hit by an unknown projectile 50NM northwest of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (UKMTO)
    • 2026 Iranian strikes on Oman
      • Iran drones strike oil storage facilities at the port of Salalah, causing several fuel tanks to burst into flames.(Reuters) (Oil Price)
    • 2026 Iranian strikes on Iraq
      • Two tankers carrying Iraqi oil and gas, Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and Malta-flagged Zefyros, catch fire after being struck in Iraqi territorial waters off Khor Al Zubair Port and near the Al-Faw port area. An Indian member of the first crew is killed in the attack. (Oil Price) (Deccan Herald)
  • Hezbollah–Israel conflict
    • 2026 Lebanon war
      • Seven people are killed and 23 others are injured after an Israeli strike on Temnine Et Tahta, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, Lebanon. Five people are also injured after a strike on the nearby village of Aali en Nahri. (BBC News)
      • Hezbollah launches over 100 rockets at Israel, injuring five civilians in Upper Galilee. (The Jerusalem Post)
  • Four people are injured in the United Arab Emirates after two drones fall near Dubai International Airport. (Xinhua)
• Kivu conflict
  • A United Nations aid worker from France is killed in a series of explosions caused by drone strikes in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the occupying M23 rebels blaming the Congolese government. (AP)
• Sudanese civil war
  • At least 17 people are killed in a drone strike on a secondary school and a health center in Shukeiri, White Nile State, Sudan. Local authorities and the Sudan Doctors Union blame the Rapid Support Forces. (AP)
  • Over 20 people are killed and 23 others injured in a Sudanese Armed Forces drone strike Abu Zabad, West Kordofan, Sudan. (Dabanga Sudan)
• Terrorism in Norway
  • Norwegian police arrest three brothers on suspicion of involvement in a bombing outside the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March that caused minor damage but no injuries. A terrorist motive is suspected. (AFP via CTV News)

Business and econony

• Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
  • 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
    • The International Energy Agency agrees to discharge 400 million barrels of oil from its members’ strategic reserves, its largest-ever release, to counter soaring global energy prices due to the war. Despite the measure, the price of the crude barrel rises above US$100 again in international markets. (Al Jazeera) (Forbes)
  • Wynn Resorts says it plans to resume construction on the upcoming Al Marjan Island resort in Ras Al Khaimah following a short pause amidst the war. (Reuters) (Khaleej Times)

International relations

• United Nations Security Council, 2026 Iran war
  • The UN Security Council approves a resolution (S/RES/2817) condemning Iran's attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan. The text, presented by Bahrain and co-sponsored by 135 countries, is passed with 13 votes in favor and the abstentions of Russia and China. (United Nations Press)
• Israel–Spain relations
  • Spain permanently withdraws its ambassador to Israel and terminates the position after bilateral diplomatic relations worsened this week. (Reuters)
• Romania–United States relations, 2026 Iran war
  • Romania authorizes the United States to use its air bases to refuel aircraft and deploy monitoring and satellite communications equipment in support of military operations related to the Iran war, following approval by the Romanian parliament and the Supreme Council of National Defence. (AFP via Al Arabiya)

Law and crime

• Censorship of TikTok, Mass media in Albania
  • The Albanian constitutional court rules that the government's ban on the social media platform TikTok violated constitutional protections for freedom of expression and press freedom, after authorities blocked the service in 2025 following a fatal stabbing linked to a dispute on the platform. (AFP via France 24)
• Europol reports that more than 330 people in 70 countries have been arrested during an international operation against organized networks suspected of trafficking illegal waste within Europe and exporting it to Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with large quantities of dangerous goods and nearly €10 million (US$11.6 million) in assets seized. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

• 2025 Chilean general election
  • José Antonio Kast is sworn in as President of Chile, succeeding Gabriel Boric. (Washington Post)

Sports

• 2026 FIFA World Cup, Iran at the FIFA World Cup
  • Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamali states that Iran will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, citing security concerns amid the Iran war. (Reuters)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• 2026 Iran war
  • 2026 Iranian strikes on the United Arab Emirates
    • The Ruwais refinery in Al Dhannah, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates, shuts down after a drone strike that causes a fire. (Reuters)
  • 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
    • United States intelligence sources report that Iran has started to deploy underwater mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The Central Command says that American forces have sunk several Iranian ships, including 16 minelaying vessels. (CNN) (CNBC)
  • United Kingdom involvement in the 2026 Iran war
    • Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon leaves Portsmouth and heads to Cyprus in response to a drone strike on the United Kingdom's RAF Akrotiri base. (BBC News)
  • According to Iran International, American and Israeli airstrikes have killed many Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders and generals, including Basij chief Asadollah Badfar. Prior to his reported death, Badfar was involved in crackdowns against the 2025–2026 protests. (Iran International) (Jerusalem Post)
• Russo-Ukrainian war
  • Attacks in Russia during the Russo-Ukrainian war
    • Six people are killed and 37 others are injured in a Ukrainian missile attack in Bryansk, Russia. (Xinhua)
  • The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces announce several overnight drone strikes on Russian electronic warfare stations and warehouses in Donetsk and Makiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. (Ukrainska Pravda)
• Sudanese civil war
  • Forty people are killed in a drone strike on a truck carrying funeralgoers near Abu Zabad, West Kordofan, Sudan. (Arab News)
  • Seven people, including three children, are killed and 13 others are injured in a Rapid Support Forces drone strike in Dilling, South Kordofan, Sudan. (Daily Sabah)

Business and economy

• 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
  • The price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil rises by more than five percent to US$87.65 per barrel after United States president Donald Trump escalated threats related to the Strait of Hormuz. (AFP via SpaceWar.com)
  • Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul orders remote work and the suspension of official international trips for government officials, and reduced electricity use in government buildings amid supply concerns linked to the Iranian war. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

• Tornadoes of 2026
  • At least two are killed and six are injured after a hailstorm and four possible tornadoes strike the vicinity of Kankakee, Illinois, and Wheatfield, Indiana, United States. (WLS-TV)
• The Indonesian rescue agency ends search and rescue operations after a garbage landslide at the Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, West Java, on March 8 killed seven people, with all individuals previously reported missing accounted for. (Reuters)
• Five people are killed and eleven others are injured when a bus collides with a truck on the Kampala–Gulu Highway near Bweyale Town, Kiryandongo District, Uganda. (Daily Monitor)

Health and environment

• Arctic sea ice decline
  • The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center reports that Arctic sea ice reached about 14.22 million square kilometers, which is among the lowest yearly high points recorded in more than four decades of satellite monitoring. (AFP via RFI)

International relations

• Australia–Iran relations, Defection of Iran women's national football team
  • Australia grants humanitarian visas to five Iranian women football players who sought asylum, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, Mona Hamoudi, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, and Zahra Sarbali, citing fears of persecution after refusing to sing Iran's national anthem before an Asian Cup match in Gold Coast, Queensland. (Reuters)
• Azerbaijan–Netherlands relations, Iran–Netherlands relations, Reactions to the 2026 Iran war
  • Dutch foreign minister Tom Berendsen announces the temporary relocation of staff and operations of the Netherlands' embassy in Tehran to Baku, Azerbaijan, citing security risks to personnel amid the Iranian war. (AFP via Al Arabiya)
• China–North Korea relations, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transport
  • Train services between Beijing, China, and Pyongyang, North Korea, are announced to resume for the first time since it was suspended six years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)

Law and crime

• 2026 Iran war
  • The Iranian intelligence ministry announces the arrest of 30 individuals, including one unidentified foreign national, on allegations of espionage during the war, accusing the foreign suspect of providing information on the locations and movements of Iranian security forces and military facilities to hostile parties. (AFP via SpaceWar.com)
• 2026 Kerzers bus fire
  • Six people are killed and five others are injured in a suspected arson attack on a postal bus in Kerzers, Fribourg Canton, Switzerland. (AFP via The Guardian)
• Shots are fired at the United States consulate in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with no casualties. Police are investigating the shooting as a national security incident. (CBS News)

Politics and elections

• Reform of the House of Lords
  • Members of the House of Lords vote to pass a bill to remove hereditary peers and heads to King Charles III for royal assent. (NPR)
• Cardinal Louis Sako, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, based in Iraq, retires at the age of 76. (AP) (Vatican News)
• Malagasy interim president and military leader Michael Randrianirina removes prime minister Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo from power and dissolves the entire Cabinet without explanation, five months after they were assigned following the 2025 protests. (DW)

Sports

• 2025–26 NBA season
  • Bam Adebayo's 83-point game
    • In basketball, Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo scores 83 points in a 150–129 win over the Washington Wizards, marking the second-most points in a game in NBA history and most since Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962. Adebayo’s 36 free throws and 43 attempts also set single-game NBA records. (AP) (ESPN)
• 2026 Winter Paralympics
  • Brazil at the 2026 Winter Paralympics
    • Brazilian skier Cristian Ribera wins Brazil's, Latin America's and South America's first ever medal at the Winter Paralympics. (BBC)