Articles about Ahead

Visit with Camilla to take place in late April despite calls for it to be delayed because of US war against IranUK politics live – latest updatesThe king’s state visit to the US is to go ahead next month as planned, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.Charles and the queen’s long-expected trip to see Donald Trump will take place in late April, despite calls for it to be postponed because of the ongoing war in the Middle East. Continue reading...

• Finnish quantum hardware company IQM secured a €50 million financing facility from BlackRock-managed funds to fuel R&D and U.S. market expansion. • The funding supports IQM's preparations for a potential US stock market listing, enhancing its position in quantum computing technology. • This investment underscores growing Wall Street interest in quantum breakthroughs amid competition in advanced computing sectors.

• East and Midwest Regions completed Sweet 16 action on Friday, March 27, with top-seeded Duke facing a tough challenge from Rick Pitino's team. • Live bracket updates, scores, and in-depth analysis available for all 2026 March Madness games. • Elite Eight matchups now determined, setting stage for Final Four in Indianapolis.

• BMW accidentally leaked images of its redesigned i3 EV, revealing a sleeker design ahead of its scheduled March 2026 U.S. market launch. • The updated model features enhanced aerodynamics and interior tech tailored for American consumers amid rising EV demand. • Separately, Toyota announced a $1 billion investment in U.S.-made EV production, bolstering domestic manufacturing.

Case focuses on RNC’s challenge to a Mississippi law that allows ballots to count if they are arrive after election dayUS politics live – latest updatesThe US supreme court is hearing arguments Monday about whether mail-in ballots can be counted if they arrive after election day, which would affect laws in more than a dozen states during a midterm election year.The justice are considering Watson v Republican National Committee, a challenge over a Mississippi state law that was brought in 2024 by the Republican party. Mississippi allows mailed ballots to be counted if they arrive within five business days of election day, so long as they were postmarked by election day. Fourteen states, Washington DC and three US territories have similar laws that allow for late-arriving ballots to be counted. Continue reading...

• U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, stated in an interview that the military campaign against Iran is 'ahead or on plan' amid ongoing strikes. • Israeli forces launched a wide-scale wave of strikes on Iranian terror regime infrastructure early Monday, with Iranian media reporting new airstrikes in Tehran. • Death toll exceeds 1,500 in Iran, 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel, and 13 U.S. military members, displacing millions in both countries.

Boyband drops album that speaks to its Korean roots ahead of Seoul comeback concert, with more than a quarter of a million fans expected to attendK-pop stars BTS released a new album on Friday billed as reflecting the maturing boy band’s Korean roots and identity, as buzz built ahead of their open-air comeback concert in the heart of Seoul.The Saturday night gig, which is expected to draw around 260,000 people, will be BTS’s first after a hiatus of almost four years while all seven members served compulsory military service. It comes ahead of an 82-date world tour. Continue reading...

Residents of Coen and surrounding towns in far north Queensland spent Thursday sandbagging, stockpiling food and preparing for power outages ahead of possible category 5 stormCyclone Narelle path tracker mapGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn some ways, it seemed a pleasant, wet season morning in the remote Aboriginal community of Coen in tropical far north Queensland on Thursday – and Sara Watkins was preparing for a sausage sizzle.“It’s a day that you’d spend going fishing,” she said. Continue reading...

• US stock indexes opened lower on March 18, 2026, following accelerated Producer Price Index (PPI) data for February, with Russell 2000 down 0.84%, Dow Jones -0.42%, S&P 500 -0.28%, and Nasdaq -0.23%. • The Cboe Volatility Index rose 3.76% to 23.21, while US 10-year Treasury yield increased 2.2 basis points to 4.224%, and gold futures fell nearly 3% to $4,860.40. • Investors await Federal Reserve's afternoon decision expected to keep rates steady but provide economic insights amid inflation concerns and Iran conflict escalation.

Prime minister says US–Israeli war on Iran has shifted the international reality, likening current economic shock to Covid pandemic and Ukraine invasionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese says the federal government is preparing new measures to help shield households from the economic fallout of the war in Iran, likening supply chain and fuel disruptions to the Covid-19 pandemic.Announcing a snap meeting of national cabinet on fuel supply set to take place on Thursday morning, the prime minister used a speech to the Australian Automotive Dealer Association in Sydney to warn the international reality had shifted because of the US and Israeli-led bombings. Continue reading...

• U.S. stocks ended higher on March 17, with the Dow Jones up 0.1% to 46,993.26, S&P 500 up 0.25% to 6,716.09, and Nasdaq up 0.47% to 22,479.53. • Energy sector led gains at 1.02% amid oil surge tied to Middle East tensions, while health care lagged down 0.92%. • Investors await Federal Reserve policy guidance from its latest meeting, boosting market sentiment despite volatility.

• Republican candidates are encountering challenges mobilizing voters for the 2026 midterm elections as President Trump continues promoting claims about election integrity and potential fraud, creating messaging conflicts. • NPR analysis indicates that the more Trump emphasizes election rigging or claims Democrats will win despite Republican efforts, the harder it becomes to energize GOP voters who may grow discouraged or cynical about electoral outcomes. • Political observers note that voters are already highly polarized, making traditional persuasion efforts difficult, while Republican turnout could suffer if messaging emphasizes electoral vulnerabilities rather than party strength and accomplishments.

Candidates look for deals with rivals to boost chances as major seats including Paris, Marseille and Lyon look closePolitical parties in France are hastily attempting to negotiate strategic alliances ahead of the final round of local elections this weekend, after a strong showing by the far right and the radical left.This Sunday’s final-round vote for mayors and local councillors in major cities including Marseille, Lyon and Paris will be close. Continue reading...

Paramount and Skydance are advancing $110 billion merger discussions to acquire Warner Bros., intensifying uncertainty as the studio's 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another' eye Oscars glory on March 15, 2026. The deal could consolidate Hollywood power but risks job cuts amid ongoing layoffs. Stakeholders await regulatory approval, which may influence awards campaigning. If finalized, it promises a transformed landscape for 2026-2027 releases.

Hollywood is grappling with a severe production slump, mass layoffs, and growing anxiety over AI's role in filmmaking as the 98th Academy Awards approach on March 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. Industry insiders describe a febrile atmosphere exacerbated by corporate mergers like the potential Warner Bros. takeover by Paramount and Skydance, with Warner Bros. films 'One Battle After Another' and 'Sinners' tipped as frontrunners. The Oscars, while honoring artistic excellence, underscore deeper infrastructural issues amid political tensions including Trump's impact on the industry. Experts predict heightened uncertainty for post-ceremony production pipelines.

This blog has now closed. Follow our Middle East blog hereBoth Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine were asked today about energy secretary Chris Wright’s comments to CNBC on Thursday, where he said that the US Navy cannot escort ships through the strait of Hormuz now but it was “quite likely” that could happen by the end of the month.Gen Caine appeared to agree with Wright’s assessment, calling the waterway a “tactically complex environment”. Continue reading...

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on Thursday, March 12, 2026, aiming to boost construction and limit institutional ownership of homes amid affordability crisis. The measure responds to median home prices at $398,000, five times median income, pressuring both parties before midterms. Its path in the House remains uncertain despite White House support announced March 2. Implementation could take time due to state and local regulations.

President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on March 13, 2026, directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower home buying costs. The orders aim to limit financial institutions' ability to buy single-family homes and cap credit card interest rates, responding to median home prices hitting $398,000 in February—nearly five times the median household income. Housing affordability has become a pivotal issue threatening GOP midterm prospects, especially among voters under 40, amid a bipartisan Senate bill passed Thursday to boost construction. White House officials anticipate mortgage regulation changes could impact buyers within months.

Institutional investors and hedge funds executed defensive portfolio adjustments on Friday, March 13, 2026, reducing exposure ahead of the weekend due to escalating geopolitical risks in the Persian Gulf region and growing stress in the global private credit market. The Nasdaq declined 1.78% to 22,111 and the Dow dropped 1.56% to 46,777 as surging oil prices and Iran-related fears triggered broad risk-off sentiment across markets. Market observers noted that sophisticated investors remained in defensive positions pending clarity on the Strait of Hormuz, with key monitoring points including tanker traffic, Sunday night oil futures, and potential ceasefire negotiations. The S&P 500 has fallen approximately 3% for the month of March, placing the index in negative territory for the year.

On March 13, 2026, institutional investors, hedge funds, and traders quietly cut risk positions before US markets closed for the weekend, amid escalating Persian Gulf conflict and Strait of Hormuz uncertainties. This defensive shift reflects pressures from geopolitical risks, hedge fund losses, and stress in global private credit markets, unrelated to recession or earnings. Key weekend indicators include tanker traffic, Sunday oil futures, US naval moves, and ceasefire talks, with S&P 500 futures reaction signaling Monday's open. Smart money remains cautious until Hormuz clarity emerges.

On March 13, 2026, institutional investors and hedge funds trimmed stock positions before the market close due to escalating geopolitical risks, hedge fund losses, and stress in the global private credit market. The Nasdaq slid 1.78% to 22,111, Dow dropped 1.56% to 46,777, and S&P 500 fell 3% for March amid broad risk-off selling. These moves signal defensive positioning until clarity emerges on Persian Gulf naval operations and tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Key weekend indicators include Sunday oil futures and S&P 500 futures reaction.

Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis forecasts top 2026 Oscar races, predicting Best Actress frontrunners and whether Sinners could set records in a tight Best Picture field. Discussed on ABC News March 14, Davis analyzes prior awards shows like BAFTAs for predictive patterns favoring Warner Bros films. The preview comes hours before the March 15 ceremony in LA, influencing betting odds. Davis notes, 'Previous wins give strong insight into Oscar outcomes.'

Kelley Carter, senior entertainment reporter at ESPN's Andscape, previewed her 2026 Oscars predictions on ABC News Live, highlighting frontrunners in key categories. The segment aired as Hollywood gears up for Conan O'Brien's hosting debut this Sunday at the Dolby Theatre. Carter's insights come amid widespread speculation on winners like Warner Bros' contenders. Fans anticipate surprises in best picture and acting races during the live broadcast.