Blue

• Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared the U.S. has established a protective 'red, white and blue dome' over the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard commercial shipping against Iranian threats. • The military operation represents an escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions, with forces actively escorting vessels through the strategic waterway amid ongoing hostilities. • The initiative reflects heightened security measures in one of the world's most critical shipping lanes following recent military exchanges between U.S. and Iranian forces.

Rusty Hicks concerned that Democrats could crowd each other out in ‘open’ system and hand victory to RepublicansThe chair of the California Democratic party says he wants to get rid of the state’s idiosyncratic “open primary”, calling it a failure that risks pitting a crowded field of Democratic candidates against each other to the point where a Republican can be elected governor of one of the bluest states in the US.“The current system we have does not work,” Rusty Hicks said in an interview. “It needs to be revised or repealed.” Continue reading...

Badge holders and carers report being harassed, filmed and threatened by strangers who think they are faking disabilityDisabled people who use blue badges to go about their daily lives have said they are being harassed, questioned and even assaulted, as anti-benefits rhetoric becomes more mainstream in the UK.About 3 million people in the UK now have a blue badge, including 1 in 15 adults in England. The number of people who qualify for the scheme – which allows drivers to park in more accessible spaces – has caused some to warn of misuse and fraud. Continue reading...

NSW police say human remains found and four people taken to hospital after overnight fire in Bowen Mountain houseFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo bodies have been found following an early morning house fire that caused four others to be taken to hospital.New South Wales police said remains were found when the house was able to be searched on Monday morning, after firefighters extinguished the blaze. Continue reading...

• The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Nathan Lukes on the injured list, creating a roster adjustment for the team. • Lukes' absence impacts the Blue Jays' outfield depth during the 2026 MLB season. • The move reflects ongoing roster management decisions by Toronto as the season progresses.

Members will plan how to come to each other’s aid in the event of an attack as Nato faces worst crisis in its historyBrussels officials will draw up a plan on how to use the EU’s little-known mutual assistance pact in the event of a foreign attack, as Donald Trump’s criticism of Nato intensifies.EU leaders have agreed that the European Commission “will prepare a blueprint” on how the bloc will respond if the mutual assistance clause is triggered, according to Nikos Christodoulides, the president of Cyprus, who is hosting the talks. Continue reading...

Lawsuit follows exchange on X in which airline suggested customer should clear their cache or book with incognito windowSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxJetBlue has been sued in a proposed class action claiming it uses customers’ personal data to set ticket prices, after its response to a social media post raised concern that the carrier employed “surveillance pricing” to make flying more expensive.According to a complaint filed late Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court, JetBlue conceals its use of “trackers” to set prices dynamically, and shares data with third parties whose programs help it decide when to raise fares. Continue reading...

Democratic city does not control its police force – and reform attempts have been thwarted by RepublicansQuinton Lucas said he thinks his city’s police department “is a colonial system”.“I think it is anti-Black. I think it is anti-immigrant. I think it is anti-almost everything we stand for in terms of making sure that diverse populations in major cities have a voice in terms of navigating it,” the Kansas City mayor said. Continue reading...

• OpenAI released its Child Safety Blueprint on April 8, 2026, to address rising AI-generated child sexual abuse material in the US. • The blueprint focuses on faster detection, improved reporting, and efficient investigations, responding to over 8,000 IWF reports in early 2025, up 14% year-over-year. • It targets criminals using AI for fake explicit images and grooming messages amid policymaker scrutiny.

• Chicago White Sox completed a stunning sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays at home, marking their best start in 22 years with strong performances across three games. • The series win highlighted the White Sox's offensive surge and pitching dominance, silencing critics early in the season. • This victory boosts Chicago's standings in the AL Central and signals a potential turnaround for the team after recent struggles.

Councils urged to crack down on misuse of parking permits that help people with disabilities and health conditionsCouncils in England have been urged to crack down on the misuse of blue badge parking permits – legitimate and counterfeit – as the proportion of people holding them has reached one in 15.The AA called for more to be done to detect offences such as people using fake or stolen badges. Continue reading...

• Blue Owl Capital investors requested $5.4 billion in redemptions from two private credit funds amid accelerating outflows in the financial services sector. • The fund manager reversed its policy by capping redemptions at 5% to manage liquidity pressures effectively. • This development highlights rising concerns over private credit market stability amid broader economic uncertainties.

• The Trump White House issued a March 20, 2026, AI policy framework calling on Congress to preempt state laws regulating AI model development and avoid new federal agencies. • It recommends codifying Trump's ratepayer protection pledge by Amazon, Google, and OpenAI for data center electricity, plus age-gating for child-accessible models and skills training legislation. • The blueprint seeks to balance innovation with child protections but faces bipartisan hurdles, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune eyes bundling with KOSA by April end.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang introduced the BlueField-4 STX storage infrastructure and new Vera CPU at the company's GTC conference in California on March 16, with the Vera CPU delivering twice the efficiency and 50% faster performance than traditional processors. • The Vera Rubin AI platform now has seven new chips in full production destined for the world's largest AI factories, alongside a preview of DLSS 5, described as Nvidia's most significant graphics breakthrough since real-time ray tracing in 2018. • Growing public skepticism about AI adoption is emerging, with a Pew Research Centre poll showing 50% of US adults feel more concerned than excited about increased AI in daily life, up from 37% in 2021.

Detroit Tigers narrowly beat Toronto Blue Jays on March 14 in Dunedin, Fla., during MLB Spring Training, aired on MLBN at 1 p.m. The close victory helps Detroit fine-tune its roster ahead of the regular season. Key performances from Tigers pitchers and hitters shone in the Grapefruit League matchup. Both teams continue preparations for Opening Day.

Detroit defeated Toronto 4-3 in MLB Spring Training on Saturday in Dunedin, Florida, with Riley Greene's two-run homer in the seventh proving decisive. Tarik Skubal pitched 3 scoreless innings for the Tigers, striking out 5. This win improves Detroit's spring record to 12-5, building momentum for Opening Day. Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 2-for-4 in the loss.