The so-called solidarity contribution had already been voted through by the upper house of parliament last week
International News via Reuters:
The Swiss lower house of parliament on Monday approved plans to make a one-off payment of 50,000 Swiss francs ($64,000) to survivors and bereaved families of a New Year bar fire at a ski resort that killed 41 people and injured 115.
The so-called solidarity contribution, which aims to provide swift financial support to victims of the blaze at the Le Constellation bar in the town of Crans-Montana, had already been voted through by the upper house of parliament last week.
The payment is meant to apply to each individual who lost their life in the fire and everyone who was hospitalised. Most of those who died were teenagers and many of the victims were foreigners, including several from France and Italy.
According to witnesses and prosecutors, the fire appeared to have been started by the use of sparkling candles that ignited foam soundproofing on the bar’s basement ceiling.
Earlier, a document showed that Swiss prosecutors have widened their investigation into the fire, adding the mayor of Crans-Montana and four other current and former local officials to the list of suspects.
($1 = 0.7785 Swiss francs)
Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Dave Graham
The incident in southern Turkey marks the second intercepted missile from Iran in the last week
International News via Reuters:
Turkey said on Monday that NATO air defences shot down a second Iranian ballistic missile that had entered its airspace and warned that it would move against any such threats, which increasingly pose a test for Ankara and the alliance.
The incident in southern Turkey marks the second intercepted missile from Iran in the last week. Turkey, NATO’s second-largest army and Iran’s neighbour, had warned Tehran on Saturday against attacking again, but it has not suggested it wants to formally call on bloc members for further protection.
A NATO spokesperson confirmed that the alliance had intercepted a missile heading to Turkey, and that it stood firm in its readiness to defend allies.
Unlike last week’s incoming missile, which was downed outside Turkey, the latest missile entered Turkish airspace. Its fragments fell in a region sitting between a critical airbase to the west and a radar base to the east, both of which are used by the United States and NATO.
“We once again emphasise that all necessary measures will be taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country’s territory and airspace,” the Turkish Defence Ministry said, adding there had been no casualties in the incident.
“We also reiterate that it is in everyone’s interest to heed Turkey’s warnings in this regard,” it said.
President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had delivered the necessary warnings to Iran after the missile incident.
“Iran continues to take wrong and provocative steps,” Erdogan said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.
He said that Turkey would continue to take additional measures after deploying six F-16 fighter jets to northern Cyprus earlier on Monday, adding that Turkey’s main goal was to keep the country out of the “blaze” of the Iran war.
RELIANCE ON NATO DEFENCES
Turkey, an emerging leader in the global defence industry, lacks its own fully fledged air defences despite development efforts, and has relied on NATO air defences stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in both incidents in the last week.
Turkey did not immediately comment on any formal steps within NATO.
It had previously said it had no intention of invoking the bloc’s Article 4 that would call allies to consult if a member is threatened. That could lead to Article 5, which would call NATO to defend its attacked ally.
President Tayyip Erdogan’s office said Ankara was strongly reiterating its warning to all parties, namely Iran, to avoid endangering regional stability and civilians.
It was unclear where the missile was headed.
U.S. air forces are stationed at Turkey’s Incirlik base, and there is a NATO radar base in Malatya province to the northeast that provides vital protection for the alliance. Ankara said the missile debris fell in empty fields in Gaziantep, which sits roughly between the two.
The U.S. embassy in Turkey ordered non-emergency government employees and families to leave its southern Adana consulate, where service was suspended, and it strongly encouraged Americans to leave southeast Turkey.
Ankara says that Washington has not used Incirlik in its air assault, alongside Israel, on Iran, which triggered Tehran’s missile and drone attacks.
Iran did not immediately comment on the incident, but it has said repeatedly that it is not at war with regional countries and is not explicitly targeting Turkey.
Turkey had sought to mediate U.S.-Iran talks before the air war that began 10 days ago.
Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler, Jonathan Spicer, Aidan Lewis
The deal marks a turnaround from February, when Novo sued Hims over a $49 compounded alternative to its Wegovy weight-loss pill
International News via Reuters:
Novo Nordisk has agreed to sell its blockbuster Wegovy and Ozempic drugs through U.S. telehealth company Hims & Hers’ platform, the Danish drugmaker said on Monday, ending a legal dispute that erupted last month.
The deal marks a turnaround from February, when Novo sued Hims over a $49 compounded alternative to its Wegovy weight-loss pill.
Shares of the telehealth company rose 36% in morning trading.
Novo is grappling with telehealth firms offering cheaper compounded copycat versions of its obesity treatments.
Under the agreement, Hims will offer regulatory-approved Ozempic and Wegovy injectables, as well as the Wegovy pill, to U.S. consumers on its platform at Novo’s self-pay prices.
In return, Hims will no longer advertise compounded GLP-1 drugs, though it will continue offering them when providers deem it clinically necessary.
“Glad to see HIMS will stop advertising unapproved compounded drugs and instead sell FDA-approved products through its new partnership with Novo Nordisk. Importantly, they will keep them affordable (no increase in price) and limit compounded GLP-1s for rare (FDA compliant) cases,” FDA commissioner Marty Makary wrote in a post on social media platform X.
“I’d like to congratulate both parties on this deal following our recent action.”
In February, the health regulator said it would take decisive steps against companies mass-marketing illegal copycat drugs, including Hims.
COMPETITION DRIVES PRICE CUTS
Novo CEO Mike Doustdar said the Wegovy pill had generated more than 600,000 prescriptions since its launch two months ago, with telehealth partnerships accelerating uptake.
The Danish firm faces stiff U.S. competition from Eli Lilly. To boost sales, Novo has cut prices for its weight-loss drugs from about $1,000 per month to $149-$299 on its websites.
Doustdar said lower pricing was a key part of the partnership, telling Reuters that “authentic products are now very similarly priced as the compounded ones”.
The deal follows a warning last week from U.S. regulators to 30 telehealth companies over misleading promotions of compounded drugs from the GLP-1 class that includes Wegovy and Ozempic. The Food and Drug Administration said some firms falsely equated compounded products with approved medications.
Hims CEO Andrew Dudum said the partnership with Novo followed Hims’ decision to shift its U.S. weight-loss business away from compounded GLP-1 drugs and towards branded, FDA-approved treatments, reflecting what he said was rising demand for a wider range of lower-cost options.
“That’s where we see growth in the business,” Dudum told Reuters.
In light of the agreement, Novo Nordisk said it was withdrawing the patent infringement lawsuit “while reserving the right to refile”.
Novo ended a similar agreement last year over concerns about compounded drug marketing and sales.
Reporting by Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen and Maggie Fick in London, additional reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru. Editing by Mark Potter and Krishna Chandra Eluri
The blue-chip FTSE 100 slipped 0.3%, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 lost 1.8%. Both indexes dropped for the third straight day
International News via Reuters:
UK stocks closed at their lowest levels in about five weeks on Monday as rising oil prices intensified inflation fears and concerns over potential interest rate hikes amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 slipped 0.3%, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 lost 1.8%. Both indexes dropped for the third straight day.
The benchmark index has now fallen about 7% from its record high hit on February 27 as tensions escalated in the Middle East.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, signalling that hardliners remain firmly in charge in Tehran.
Shares of oil majors rose, with Shell firming 2.4% and BP up 2.2%, tracking crude prices that hit their highest since 2022, briefly breaking above $119 a barrel on concerns over prolonged shipping and supply disruptions stemming from the widening conflict. [O/R]
The UK’s energy index gained 2.3%.
Soaring energy prices have renewed inflation worries and prompted a sharp pullback from February when two Bank of England rate cuts were priced in.
Money markets largely expect the Bank of England to leave interest rates unchanged for the rest of the year as the war drives up energy costs and raises the spectre of another inflation wave. [BOEWATCH]
Traders were also weighing the potential costs of fresh government support for energy bills after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said easing the cost-of-living strain was at the top of his mind.
Any new support would further strain public finances and erode the buffer the government has to protect its fiscal rules.
British borrowing costs surged sharply, while sterling tumbled on Monday. [GBP/]
Adding to the gloom, the latest REC/KPMG report on jobs indicated that starting salaries for permanent staff in Britain continued to decline, albeit at a slower pace, while the downturn in new permanent hires showed signs of easing.
Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore and Ros Russell
The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) is appealing for the public’s urgent assistance in locating 98-year-old Kenneth Brangman.
Mr. Brangman is described as brown complexioned, approximately 6 feet tall, of slim build, with close cut grey and black hair.
He was apparently last seen this morning, Monday, 9th March 2026, at a Bob’s Valley Lane, Sandys parish residence.
Last known to be wearing brown long pants, black shoes and a blue cap, the senior citizen is understood to be travelling on foot.
Police officers and family members are currently attempting to locate Mr. Brangman.
Members of the public with any information on the whereabouts of 98-year-old Kenneth Brangman are urged to contact the BPS immediately, by calling 211.
Michael Weeks says more than 160 posts are open, with about 100 people currently in the recruitment process
There are more than 160 vacancies across the island’s uniformed services.
This today from Minister of National Security Michael Weeks who told parliamentarians that recruitment efforts to fill the posts remain active and ongoing.
Of the vacancies: 11 are in the fire service, 47 in police, 52 in customs, 11 in the Department of National Drug Control and 46 in the regiment – 2 full time and 44 part-time.
Minister Weeks says there is strong interest but candidates must meet rigorous standards.
The next cohort of recruits within the fire, police, regiment and customs services will see their courses start between April and June respectively.
According to the data shared today, around 100 people are currently in the recruitment pipeline.
Minister Weeks says keeping uniformed services fully staffed requires ongoing recruitment and long-term planning.
“It is important to recognise that maintaining capable operational services is not achieved through a single recruitment exercise. It requires continuous workforce planning, ongoing recruitment pipelines, and a commitment to training and professional development. As retirements occur and operational demands evolve, the Ministry must remain proactive in ensuring that the next generation of officers, firefighters, and public safety professionals are prepared to step forward and serve.
“Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of National Security will therefore continue working closely with its departments to support recruitment, develop training pathways, and ensure that each service has the personnel it requires to carry out its mandate effectively. Our objective remains clear: to maintain capable services that can protect our borders, support our communities, and respond effectively in times of emergency.”
The Minister’s full remarks made in the House of Assembly are below.
Public feedback is encouraged on whether Bermuda should strengthen its formal ties with the Caribbean
The Government of Bermuda, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has launched a national public consultation on Bermuda’s potential advancement to Full Membership in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The consultation begins with the publication of the Green Paper titled “The Story of Us; Green Paper on Bermuda’s Application for Full Membership in the Caribbean Community” which outlines what CARICOM is, what full membership could mean for Bermuda, and the considerations involved in pursuing that path.
The Green Paper was announced in the House of Assembly today by the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, Minister of Home Affairs.
Minister Lightbourne has also released a video message today inviting Bermudians to learn more about Bermuda’s historical, cultural and familial CARICOM connections and to take part in the consultation process. The video can be found here: Minister Alexa Lightbourne – Full Video
“This Green Paper is an invitation to the people of Bermuda to become informed, to understand what CARICOM is, what full membership could mean, and to share their views,” said Minister Lightbourne. “We encourage every Bermudian to read the document and take part in the national conversation.”
Bermuda has been an Associate Member of CARICOM since 2003, participating in areas such as regional cooperation, sport, culture, and disaster support. The Green Paper now explores what deeper engagement through full membership could involve.
Members of the public are encouraged to review the Green Paper, learn more about CARICOM, and provide feedback as part of the consultation process.
The document is available online at: http//togetherforcaricom.gov.bm/.
The website also provides information about upcoming public presentations and opportunities for residents to share their views.
Minister Lightbourne added, “This consultation is about ensuring Bermudians have the facts and information they need to understand the options before us. We encourage the public to read the Green Paper carefully, ask questions, and provide feedback as we consider Bermuda’s next steps.”
The public consultation will continue over the coming months, with feedback helping to inform the Government’s next steps.
Anthropic said in its lawsuit that the designation was unlawful and violated its free speech and due process rights
International News via Reuters:
Anthropic on Monday filed a lawsuit to block the Pentagon from placing it on a national security blacklist, escalating the artificial intelligence lab’s high-stakes battle with the U.S. military over usage restrictions on its technology.
Anthropic said in its lawsuit that the designation was unlawful and violated its free speech and due process rights. The filing in federal court in California asked a judge to undo the designation and block federal agencies from enforcing it.
“These actions are unprecedented and unlawful. The Constitution does not allow the government to wield its enormous power to punish a company for its protected speech,” Anthropic said.
The Pentagon on Thursday slapped a formal supply-chain risk designation on Anthropic, limiting use of a technology that a source said was being used for military operations in Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic after the startup refused to remove guardrails against using its AI for autonomous weapons or domestic surveillance. The two sides had been in increasingly contentious talks over those limitations for months, Reuters first reported.
Anthropic officials said the lawsuit doesn’t preclude re-opening negotiations with the U.S. government and reaching a settlement. The company has said it does not want to be fighting with the U.S. government. The Pentagon said it wouldn’t comment on litigation. Last week, a Pentagon official said the two sides were no longer active talks.
The designation poses a big threat to Anthropic’s business with the government, and the outcome could shape how other AI companies negotiate restrictions on military use of their technology, though the company’s CEO Dario Amodei clarified on Thursday that the designation had “a narrow scope” and businesses could still use its tools in projects unrelated to the Pentagon.
President Donald Trump has also directed the government to stop working with Anthropic, whose financial backers include Alphabet’s Google and Amazon.com. Trump and Hegseth said there would be a six-month phase-out.
Reuters has reported that Anthropic’s investors were racing to contain the damage caused by the fallout with the Pentagon.
Trump and Hegseth’s actions on February 27 came after months of talks with Anthropic over whether the company’s policies could constrain military action and shortly after Amodei met with Hegseth in hopes of reaching a deal.
The Pentagon said U.S. law, not a private company, would determine how to defend the country and insisted on having full flexibility in using AI for “any lawful use,” asserting that Anthropic’s restrictions could endanger American lives.
Anthropic said even the best AI models were not reliable enough for fully autonomous weapons and that using them for that purpose would be dangerous. The company also drew a red line on domestic surveillance of Americans, calling that a violation of fundamental rights.
After Hegseth’s announcement, Anthropic said in a statement that the designation would be legally unsound and set a dangerous precedent for companies that negotiate with the government. The company said it would not be swayed by “intimidation or punishment,” and on Thursday Amodei reiterated that Anthropic would challenge the designation in court.
He also apologized for an internal memo published on Wednesday by tech news site The Information. In the memo, which was written last Friday, Amodei said Pentagon officials did not like the company in part because “we haven’t given dictator-style praise to Trump.”
The Defense Department signed agreements worth up to $200 million each with major AI labs in the past year, including Anthropic, OpenAI and Google.
Microsoft-backed OpenAI announced a deal to use its technology in the Defense Department network shortly after Hegseth moved to blacklist Anthropic. CEO Sam Altman said the Pentagon shared OpenAI’s principles of ensuring human oversight of weapon systems and opposing mass U.S. surveillance.
Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; additional reporting by Deepa Seetharaman in San Francisco; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Lisa Shumaker, Daniel Wallis and Nick Zieminski
The deal gatecrashed a competing offer from Daily Mail owner DMGT on Friday last week, which had already been sent for regulatory scrutiny by Nandy
International News via Reuters:
British culture minister Lisa Nandy said on Monday she would assess Germany publisher Axel Springer’s 575 million pound ($767 million) deal to buy the Telegraph Media Group under Britain’s public interest and foreign state influence media mergers regime.
The deal gatecrashed a competing offer from Daily Mail owner DMGT on Friday last week, which had already been sent for regulatory scrutiny by Nandy.
“I will thoroughly assess the proposed new deal under the public interest and foreign state influence media mergers regime, in my quasi-judicial role, as set out in the Enterprise Act 2002,” Nandy said in a written statement.
($1 = 0.7498 pounds)
Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; editing by Sarah Young
Randrianirina seized control of the Indian Ocean island nation in the wake of youth-led protests that forced out his predecessor, Andry Rajoelina
International News via Reuters:
Madagascar’s President Michael Randrianirina, who seized power in October, has dismissed his prime minister and the entire cabinet on Monday, his spokesperson said in a statement.
Randrianirina seized control of the Indian Ocean island nation in the wake of youth-led protests that forced out his predecessor, Andry Rajoelina.* “The President will shortly proceed with the appointmentof a new Prime Minister, following the procedures set out by theconstitution,” Harry Laurent Rahajason, director ofcommunication of the Presidency, said in the statement. * The statement did not provide an explanation for thedismissal.
Reporting by Lovasoa Rabary; writing by George Obulutsa;Editing by Bate Felix
The explosion, which happened around 4 a.m. (0300 GMT), blew out the windows of the synagogue, as well as those of a building on the opposite side of the road, public broadcaster RTBF said
International News via Reuters:
An explosion hit a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege early on Monday in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack that caused damage but no injuries.
The explosion, which happened around 4 a.m. (0300 GMT), blew out the windows of the synagogue, as well as those of a building on the opposite side of the road, public broadcaster RTBF said.
The cause was not clear, but prosecutors said the case had been passed to federal authorities, which normally investigate incidents linked to terrorism or organised crime.
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin called the explosion “a despicable antisemitic act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium”.
He said security measures around similar sites will continue to be reinforced.
Eitan Bergman, Vice-President of the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organisations in Belgium (CCOJB), said the targeting of the synagogue was deeply shocking.
“Liege is home to a very small but vibrant Jewish community where I personally grew up. Today, the feelings among our community members are a mixture of sadness, worry and profound shock,” he told Reuters.
Police have cordoned off the largely residential street on the bank of the river Meuse opposite Liege city centre.
Federal prosecutors declined to give further details of the incident.
Reporting by Bart Meijer, Lili Bayer and Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Philippa Fletcher
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