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Iran has strongly denied allegations of launching a missile attack on a joint US-UK military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the claim as an 'Israeli false flag' attack, accusing Israel of spreading disinformation. The denial comes after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that the alliance could not confirm Israel's claim that the projectiles used were Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles. This development has raised questions about the credibility of Israel's allegations and the potential motives behind them. Iran's Foreign Affairs spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, wrote on X that the accusations reflected a pattern of 'disinformation' and criticized NATO's support for the US and Israel. He emphasized that the world has grown tired of 'false flag' storylines, suggesting that such claims are becoming increasingly discredited. Earlier, US media outlets reported that missiles were launched between Thursday night and Friday morning but failed to hit the Diego Garcia base. If Iran were confirmed to be behind the attacks, it would imply that it possesses ballistic missiles with a range of over 4,000km, capable of reaching as far as London. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously stated that Iran had intentionally limited its missile range to below 2,000km to avoid being perceived as a threat by other countries. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned what she called 'reckless Iranian threats' but emphasized that London would not be drawn into a wider conflict in the Middle East. The UK-US military airbase on Diego Garcia is home to nearly 2,500 mostly American personnel and has supported various US military operations over the years. Israel's military chief, Eyal Zamir, claimed that Iran used a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000km to target the base. Israel has long considered Iran's missile and nuclear programs a threat and has lobbied the US for military intervention.

At least two people have been killed in a tragic incident involving an Air Canada Express flight that struck a ground vehicle while landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The accident occurred on Sunday night, and the airport has been closed since then, with flights diverted to other airports. The aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada, collided with a firefighting truck on Runway 4 at approximately 11:40 pm on Sunday (03:40 GMT on Monday). The vehicle was driving to respond to a separate incident. According to the Port Authority, 32 of the 41 injured individuals had been released by Monday, while nine remained hospitalized with serious injuries. The passengers and crew members on board Flight AC8646, which departed from Montreal, included 76 people, four of whom were crew members. The CRJ-900 aircraft struck the vehicle at a relatively low speed of 39 kilometers per hour (24 miles per hour). Emergency response protocols were immediately activated, and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for all departures to LaGuardia. The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a 'go team' to investigate the collision. The incident has caused significant disruptions, with arriving planes being diverted to other airports or returning to their point of origin. New York's Emergency Management has warned of potential cancellations, road closures, traffic delays, and emergency personnel presence near the airport. LaGuardia Airport, which served 33.5 million passengers in 2024, has been experiencing flight disruptions due to poor weather and staffing impacts from a federal funding lapse.

The military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has entered its 24th day, bringing the region to a precarious juncture. As US President Donald Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches its expiration at 23:44 GMT on Monday, Tehran has issued stern warnings regarding the potential targeting of its electricity grid. In response, Iran has vowed to strike the energy and water systems of its Gulf neighbors, raising fears of a broader regional energy crisis.The conflict is already having tangible repercussions on the global economy. Financial markets are reacting sharply to the escalating tensions, with stocks in China and Hong Kong on track for their worst performance in nearly a year. The uncertainty has fueled stagflation fears, prompting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to convene an emergency meeting to address the mounting economic fallout.In Iran, the situation remains volatile. The Israeli military has conducted a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure across Tehran, resulting in powerful explosions reported in the central, southern, and eastern parts of the capital. Verified footage shows massive columns of fire and smoke rising over Karaj following an air attack. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has retaliated by threatening attacks on power plants in Israel and those supplying electricity to US bases, while also targeting a turbine engine production site in Qom used for drone components.The conflict has also spilled over into Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that two ballistic missiles were launched toward Riyadh, with one intercepted and the other falling in an uninhabited area. The UAE reported debris injuries in the al-Shawamekh area, while Bahrain confirmed attacks on the US Fifth Fleet. In Qatar, seven people were killed in a helicopter crash, and Kuwait has formally protested airspace violations to the International Civil Aviation Organization.The human toll continues to rise. In Israel, alerts were triggered across Jerusalem and central Israel following explosions, with the casualty toll from attacks on Dimona and Arad climbing to at least 180 injured. In Lebanon, authorities report that at least 1,029 people have been killed since March 2, with over 100 of the victims being children. In Iraq, at least 60 people have been killed, primarily among pro-Iran Popular Mobilisation Forces.

Six decades ago, pioneering oceanographer and conservationist Sylvia Earle made a remarkable discovery while diving off Chile’s oceanic islands. She found the remains of a baby fur seal, a species endemic to the Juan Fernández archipelago that was believed to have been hunted to extinction in the 19th century. This discovery gave Earle hope that a small population might still exist, and indeed, a year later, a colony of 20 endemic fur seals was confirmed on Robinson Crusoe Island.Today, after decades of conservation efforts, the fur seal population has made an extraordinary recovery. An estimated 200,000 fur seals now inhabit the waters around the islands, returning them to their previous role as key members of the ecosystem. Earle, now 90, who returned to the island to dive in December 2025, described the archipelago as a critical 'Hope Spot' for marine protection.In a significant conservation victory, outgoing Chilean President Gabriel Boric recently signed an agreement to extend protection of 337,000 sq km of waters around Juan Fernández and the nearby Nazca-Desventuradas marine park. Once implemented, this 'no take' zone will extend to almost 1 million sq km, making it the third-largest such marine protected zone in the world. By doing so, Chile would protect more than 50% of its waters, placing it in a rare category alongside countries such as Panama and French Polynesia.The protection prohibits all fishing activities except within 12km of the coast, allowing the community of approximately 1,000 lobster fishers to continue their traditional livelihood. Chile is now out in front globally in ocean protection efforts, according to Earle, as most countries have been slower to commit to such extensive marine conservation.The initiative was driven by the Juan Fernández islanders and conservation NGOs who have advocated for decades to protect the unique ecosystem. The fishers, who witnessed the damage caused by industrial fishing of the orange roughy in the 1990s and 2000s, have practiced stewardship of their fishery. A survey showed 98% of residents supported extended protections, leading the fishers to present a proposal directly to the president.Julio Chamorro Solís, a lobster fisher and president of the local fishing organization, emphasized the importance of the unique ecosystem: 'We know the level of endemism we have and how fragile this ecosystem is. There's a biological treasure here.'However, the future of this expanded protection remains uncertain. The new Chilean government, led by President-elect José Antonio Kast, is currently reviewing environmental laws established by the previous administration. While the Chilean ministry of the environment has stated its intention is not to eliminate protections, conservationists and islanders await confirmation that the marine park extension will proceed as planned.This initiative aligns with global commitments to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, a goal reinforced by the recent implementation of the high seas treaty. The expansion of Chile's marine protected areas represents a significant step toward achieving this ambitious target while safeguarding one of the planet's unique marine ecosystems.

The Trump administration has announced it will pay French energy major TotalEnergies $1 billion to kill plans to construct wind farms off the US east coast. This decision comes as a fuel crisis triggered by the war in Iran drives up global fossil fuel prices.The deal is the latest blow to the US offshore wind industry, which has faced repeated disruptions to multi-billion-dollar projects under Donald Trump. Trump has expressed his dislike for wind turbines, citing their ugliness, cost, and inefficiency, and his administration has moved to increase domestic fossil fuel production.In the deal, TotalEnergies will give up two offshore leases it had purchased off New York and North Carolina. The US Department of the Interior will reimburse the company $928 million it paid for the leases under Joe Biden. TotalEnergies has pledged not to develop any new offshore wind projects in the country and will invest nearly $1 billion this year in the development of four trains at the Rio Grande LNG plant in Texas, and the development of upstream conventional oil in the US Gulf and shale gas production.Critics of the deal, including climate advocates and environmental groups, argue that it will deepen the country's dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and undermine efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources. They also point out that offshore wind projects can provide reliable and affordable power to the grid. The decision has been met with criticism from groups such as Oceantic Network, Evergreen Action, and Sierra Club, who argue that it will leave American consumers struggling to pay their electricity bills and undermine efforts to address climate change.

Viktor Gyökeres has articulated the hurt and defiance within the Arsenal dressing room following their 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City and promised to use it as fuel in the club's pursuit of other trophies this season.Arsenal produced their worst performance of the season in the final, with nearly every player falling below their standard – with the possible exception of William Saliba. The period from the beginning of the second half until Nico O'Reilly scored his second goal in the 64th minute proved particularly difficult, as City established complete dominance, leaving Arsenal pinned back and struggling to mount any meaningful attack.The recovery mission has already begun, with some at the club hoping the international break will provide a timely change of environment and focus. For Gyökeres, there is also the matter of Thursday's World Cup playoff with Sweden against Ukraine in Valencia. If his country advances, they will face Poland or Albania next Tuesday for a place at the finals.Despite the setback, Arsenal remains nine points clear of City at the top of the Premier League, albeit having played one game more, and has progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will face Sporting. Their next domestic challenge comes in the FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton on the following Saturday."Of course, we don't feel great right now but it's not like we have a game in three days," Gyökeres said. "For sure, we will go again and be even more motivated for those games."The turning point at Wembley came when Arsenal's backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga – who Mikel Arteta started ahead of first-choice David Raya – dropped a cross to allow O'Reilly to score his first goal, although City had already established firm control of possession."We created some chances at the beginning of the game and then I think it was maybe 10 minutes from the break where they got the momentum," Gyökeres reflected. "I think they had the ball … maybe they didn't create so many dangerous chances but they had the ball a long time and it looked the same in the second half."Normally, when it's two top teams it can be like that [with the first goal being crucial]. In the moment of the game where they scored … yeah, it was difficult to get going afterwards."

The UK government has unveiled plans for seven new towns in England, a move hailed as the most ambitious housebuilding project in the country for over 50 years. These new towns will feature between 15,000 to 40,000 homes each and are designed to be built with coordinated infrastructure, including schools, healthcare facilities, public transport links, and walking and cycling paths. The locations of the new towns include under-developed inner-city land, a historic village, and an existing new town. Notably, up to 40,000 homes are planned around the Bedfordshire village of Tempsford, near the A1, on a former RAF base. This new town will also feature a major station interchange, linking the east coast mainline with a new east-west link between Cambridge and Oxford. Five of the projects are situated within or on the edges of major cities, including two in London. These include: Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield, on the northern edge of London, with up to 21,000 homes. Thamesmead in south-east London, with 15,000 homes, supported by an extension of the Docklands Light Railway. Victoria North in Manchester, with about 15,000 homes. Leeds South Bank, with a planned 20,000 homes. Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc in the north of Bristol, with 40,000 homes. The final project involves 40,000 new homes in Milton Keynes, a city created from Buckinghamshire farmland and villages as one of the second-generation post-war new towns. Housing Secretary Steve Reed emphasized that the plan marks a significant shift in how the UK builds for the future, with communities designed from the ground up to include homes, jobs, transport links, and green spaces.

Have you ever felt like you're racing against the clock, constantly chasing appointments and deadlines? This relentless pursuit of time is a universal experience, but what is time, really? Is it a physical phenomenon or just a tool we use to coordinate our lives? Time is often seen as an independent, physical entity that ticks by relentlessly, but emerging scientific evidence suggests that this isn't the case. Time is more like a mathematical tool, useful for coordinating our interactions, but it doesn't have an independent existence of its own. Just like money, we've become dependent on it, but it's not a physical reality. The pressure to be 'on time' is instilled in us from a young age, and we're constantly surrounded by clocks and digital alerts that divide our day into smaller pieces. This has led to a phenomenon known as 'time famine,' where the more efficient and productive we try to be, the less time we feel we have. Studies have shown that people experiencing time famine are less likely to engage in activities they enjoy, eat healthily, or seek medical attention when needed. Our brains don't have dedicated areas for tracking time, and our experience of it can vary greatly. Time can seem to drag or fly by, depending on our circumstances. For example, people with certain conditions, like akinetopsia, experience time in sudden jumps or frozen moments. The psychedelic drug mescaline can also distort time perception, making it seem like hours or even centuries have passed. Quantum physicists have found that time is not a fixed, physical flow. The famous double-slit experiment shows that a physicist's choice of measurement can influence the behavior of a particle. In a lesser-known variant of this experiment, the physicist's choice at the point of measurement can even influence the particle's past behavior. This suggests that time is not a fixed, linear concept, but rather a flexible and subjective experience. Some indigenous cultures, like the Aymara people of Chile, experience time differently. They see the future as hidden behind them, unseeable and unknowable. The Amondawa people of the Amazon have no clocks or concept of time. Instead, they live in the present, experiencing 'lived time,' which is a personal, malleable experience of change. Lived time is different from clock time, as it's not defined by numerical counters or seconds. Each moment is like a tapestry, woven from changes on multiple timescales. When we focus on lived time, it expands and becomes richer, rather than narrowing or contracting. It's a flow that carries us and connects us with others, rather than something we chase and never catch. To combat time famine, we need to remind ourselves that the clock is a tool, not a master. We should beware of digital alerts and alarms that divide our day into smaller pieces and instead focus on the rich pattern of changing connections that wire us into each moment. By doing so, we can tap into the creative process of lived time and experience a more fulfilling and connected life.

A meteorite event occurred over Ohio on Tuesday morning, producing a significant sonic boom that was felt across a wide area, including parts of Pennsylvania. According to NASA, the meteorite entered Earth's atmosphere at approximately 9 am local time. The meteorite, described as a small asteroid about 2 meters in diameter and weighing around 6 tons, moved at a speed of 45,000 mph. This event caused widespread reports of a loud boom, with residents in Cleveland and as far east as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and into New York state, describing the sound as similar to fireworks or thunder. NASA's meteoroid environment office confirmed that the asteroid was spotted near Medina, Ohio. Despite its relatively small size, the meteorite produced a considerable sonic boom, which was captured on video by a National Weather Service (NWS) employee in Pittsburgh. The NWS's Cleveland office confirmed that satellite data suggested the boom was caused by a meteorite. So far, there have been no reports of debris being found, although it's possible that small fragments may have fallen to Earth. NASA noted that about 17,000 meteorites fall to Earth annually, but most burn up in the atmosphere. The agency also stated that space rocks smaller than a football field typically break apart in Earth's atmosphere, although they can occasionally explode in mid-air.