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Actor and comedian Rob Schneider has urged the US to reinstate the military draft for young citizens, amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. In a post on X, Schneider suggested that all American citizens should serve two years of military service at the age of 18.He argued that this would promote unity and a sense of responsibility among young people, regardless of their background. "Being a citizen of the United States gives us unparalleled Freedoms and opportunities that are the envy of the world. However, these Freedoms that we cherish do not come without a cost," he wrote.Schneider, who has not served in the military himself, believes that compulsory military service would provide young Americans with valuable skills and discipline. "Unlike in today’s universities," he said, "the military would teach them how truly great their country is."The US ended its most recent draft in 1972, during the Vietnam War. Currently, male citizens between 18 and 25 are required to register with the Selective Service system. 79 countries, including Russia, Brazil, and South Korea, have some form of conscription in place.Schneider’s comments come as the US conflict with Iran continues. The White House has stated that reinstating the draft is not part of the current plan, but President Trump is keeping his options open.

Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening to "obliterate" its power stations and fresh water plants if a peace deal is not reached soon. This comes as the US and Israel's joint war against Iran enters its second month, with Tehran remaining defiant in the face of US peace proposals.The conflict has already had significant repercussions, including a record monthly rise in oil prices and concerns over a potential US ground operation to seize Kharg Island. Trump's threat to destroy civilian infrastructure, such as power and water facilities, has been condemned by human rights groups as a potential war crime.The White House has also suggested that Arab countries may be asked to help foot the bill for the war, adding a new dimension to the conflict. "It's an idea that I know that he has," said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.International pressure is mounting, with Spain closing its airspace to US planes involved in the conflict and the UK's prime minister reiterating that "this is not our war and we are not going to get dragged into it". Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has called on Trump to end the war, warning that "no one will be able to stop the war in our region".The conflict threatens to plunge the global economy into recession and trigger shortages of food and pharmaceuticals. The International Monetary Fund has warned that "all roads lead to higher prices and slower growth worldwide" if the conflict continues.

The recent half-billion-dollar bet on oil prices just before Donald Trump's announcement of 'productive talks' with Iran has raised eyebrows. It appears that some traders had prior knowledge of the event, allowing them to make a profitable wager. This incident is not an isolated case. Suspiciously timed trades have been observed on Polymarket, an online prediction market, before major events like the US attack on Iran and the Venezuelan coup. A single account made over $400,000 in a short period, sparking concerns about insider trading and conflicts of interest within the Trump administration. The White House denies any wrongdoing, but the Trump family's cryptocurrency ventures and $1.5 billion in earnings during Trump's second term have fueled speculation. The lack of regulation in betting markets, which use cryptocurrency and are decentralized, makes it difficult to track and shut down these activities. The article highlights a broader cultural shift towards monetizing everything, including politics, and the glorification of being one's own boss. This environment has created a culture of unscrupulous greed, where politicians and influencers promote dubious investment platforms and side hustles. The author suggests that Trump's actions represent an acceleration of existing dynamics, rather than a new phenomenon. The blurring of lines between politics and entertainment has turned politics into a global get-rich scheme. While we may never know if Trump directly benefited from these suspicious trades, it is clear that he is well adapted to this deregulated, rapacious, speculative culture.

Legendary actress Kim Novak has publicly criticized the casting of Sydney Sweeney to play her in an upcoming biopic about her relationship with musician Sammy Davis Jr.. In an interview with the Times, Novak, 93, stated that Sweeney was 'totally wrong to play me'.Novak expressed concerns that the film, titled Scandalous, would focus too heavily on her sexual dynamic with Davis. 'There's no way it wouldn't be a sexual relationship because Sydney Sweeney looks sexy all the time,' Novak said. She also mentioned that Sweeney 'sticks out so much above the waist'.The biopic's development has reportedly stalled, but Sydney Sweeney's Euphoria co-star Colman Domingo is set to direct, with David Jonsson cast as Davis. Novak had previously expressed her disapproval of the film's title, stating that her relationship with Davis was not 'scandalous'. Novak and Davis's relationship began in 1956 and was publicly outed in 1958, causing controversy due to their interracial relationship. Davis was subsequently pressured to marry a black woman, Loray White, to avoid backlash against Novak's career.

In a 1926 diary entry, Janet Case vividly describes a moment of natural beauty in New Forest. As she cycled down the Manor drive, flanked by towering rhododendrons, she caught glimpses of the woodland beyond. The green walls of foliage ended abruptly, revealing the sunlit forest floor starred thick with white anemones.The sight was breathtaking, with the white stars of anemones lifting above their green, deep-cut leaves, maintaining their individuality much like stars in the sky. Case noted that unlike primroses or bluebells, which form a uniform carpet or sea of color, wood anemones create a crowd of distinct flowers.The description paints a serene picture of springtime in New Forest, highlighting the unique beauty of wood anemones and their ability to retain their individual charm even in large numbers. This century-old account offers a timeless appreciation for nature's simple yet profound beauty.

The ongoing conflict in Iran has caused significant turmoil in the global oil markets, with Brent crude oil prices climbing 51% since the start of March, according to LSEG data. This surge has put Brent crude on track for its biggest monthly gain on record, surpassing the previous record of 46% set in September 1990 during the first Gulf War.On Friday, Brent crude closed at $112.57 a barrel, up from $72.48 a barrel on February 27, the day before the US-Israeli war on Iran began. The price of Brent crude traded as high as $119.50 a barrel during March, its highest level since June 2022, after Iran largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for a fifth of global oil and gas.Despite a coordinated release of 400m barrels of oil from emergency reserves announced on March 11, oil prices continued to climb throughout the month. Analysts at BloombergNEF estimate that 9m barrels of oil per day have been knocked off global oil supply due to the Middle East conflict.The conflict has also had a ripple effect on other assets, with gold prices falling by almost 15% since the start of March, on track for its worst month since 2008. The spot price of gold has been under pressure from the sale of about $3bn of bullion by the Turkish Central Bank last week, which cut its reserves by almost 50 tonnes to 772 tonnes to fund efforts to stabilize the Turkish lira.The Dow Jones industrial average has also been impacted, entering a correction at the end of last week, more than 10% below its record high. Stocks fell despite US President Donald Trump's latest extension on planned strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure, as investors anticipated prolonged disruption to oil from the Gulf.“Markets appear to be placing less weight on White House jawboning and focusing more on the underlying supply risks,” said Fawad Razaqzada, an analyst at City Index. Britain's stock market also had a poor month, with the FTSE 100 index falling more than 8% – on track for its worst month since March 2020, when Covid-19 rocked financial markets.

Jocelyn Bioh's Jaja's African Hair Braiding is a comedy that follows a day in the life of a Harlem braiding salon, owned by Jaja, who is on the cusp of marrying a white American and gaining citizenship. The play, directed by Monique Touko, has captivated audiences on Broadway with its infectious energy, humor, and charm.The story centers around the salon's staff, a diverse and lovable group of characters, each with their own story to tell. From Bea, the judgmental old-timer, to Ndidi, the no-nonsense newcomer, and Miriam, the sweet-natured optimist, the characters are skilfully drawn and larger than life, bringing the salon to life.The play tackles themes of identity, community, and the American Dream, highlighting the contrasts between the west African immigrants who work at the salon and their middle-class Black American customers. Through the characters' experiences, Bioh lays bare the gulf between them, revealing the complexities of citizenship, privilege, and belonging.Touko's direction and the performances of the cast, including Zainab Jah and Sewa Zamba, have been praised for their expert comic timing and charisma. The play's use of music and dance, featuring African pop numbers, adds to its vibrant and energetic atmosphere.Ultimately, Jaja's African Hair Braiding is a story about the strength and resilience of women and the power of community, making it a joyful and uplifting experience for audiences.

Nepal's police have arrested former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-Home Affairs Minister Ramesh Lekhak over their alleged involvement in a deadly crackdown on protesters last year.The detentions on Saturday came a day after Prime Minister Balendra Shah and his cabinet were sworn in after the first elections since the 2025 uprising that toppled Oli's government.According to The Kathmandu Post, Oli, 74, was taken into custody from his residence in Bhaktapur, a suburb of the capital, Kathmandu. Images later showed Oli walking into a hospital, dressed all in white, and surrounded by police officers.Lekhak was also detained on Saturday from another area of Bhaktapur, his personal secretary Janak Bhatta told the Post.In a statement on Facebook, new Home Minister Sudan Gurung wrote, "promise is a promise: No one is above the law"."This is not vengeance against anyone, it is simply the beginning of justice. I believe the country is now headed in a new direction," said Gurung.Oli has yet to issue a statement regarding the arrest.At least 77 people were killed in the anticorruption uprising on September 8-9, 2025, which began over a brief social media ban but tapped into longstanding fury over economic hardship.At least 19 young people were killed in the crackdown on the first day of protests.The demonstrations spread nationwide the following day as parliament and government offices were set ablaze, resulting in the government's collapse.During the caretaker administration, a government-backed commission into the deadly uprising recommended the prosecution of Oli and other senior officials.Its report said it was "not established that there was an order to shoot", but said "no effort was made to stop or control the firing and, due to their negligent conduct, even minors lost their lives".Oli has previously denied ordering security forces to open fire on protesters. During his failed bid for re-election in the March 5 poll, he blamed "infiltrators" for the violence.Prime Minister Shah, 35, a rapper-turned-politician, and his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections this month on a platform of youth-driven political change.Shah challenged and defeated Oli in the four-time ex-prime minister's own constituency.At Shah's first cabinet meeting on Friday, it was decided to implement the recommendations made by the investigative commission.

England's Ben White scored on his recall to the England side but then gave away a penalty in stoppage time as England drew 1-1 with Uruguay in a World Cup friendly. White's goal came 10 minutes from time when he poked the ball in at the far post from a corner. However, his actions turned controversial when he clipped Federico Vinas in the box, leading to a penalty for Uruguay, which Federico Valverde converted.In another matches, Florian Wirtz scored two goals and made two more as Germany twice came from behind to beat Switzerland 4-3. Wirtz's stunning right-foot shot from 30 meters gave Germany a 3-2 lead, and he sealed the win with another superb shot from the 18-yard line.Mikel Oyarzabal was the star man for Spain in its 3-0 win against Serbia, scoring two impressive goals. His first goal was a hammered shot from 16 minutes gone, and his second was an unstoppable left-foot shot from almost 25 meters out.The Netherlands also won, defeating Norway 2-1 in Amsterdam. Virgil van Dijk leveled the score 10 minutes after Norway took the lead, and Tijjani Reijnders gave the home side the win with a close-range shot in the second half.