Late Rob

There has been a steady succession of departures by ministers and senior officials in the last two yearsThe exit of the top civil servant Olly Robbins from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the latest departure of an official or minister under Keir Starmer’s two-year tenure as prime minister. Here we take a look at some of the most high-profile resignations since Starmer came to power. Continue reading...

• The Trump administration announced plans to halt billions in federal Medicaid payments to California, Florida, Maine, and New York, following similar actions against Minnesota involving over $2 billion in withheld funds and $260 million clawed back. • Officials cited alleged Medicaid fraud as the basis for these unprecedented measures, potentially creating a national playbook for pressuring states over program spending. • This escalation impacts public health insurance jointly funded by states and federal government, raising concerns about access for low-income Americans amid ongoing political tensions.

• Billy Crystal honored late director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner during the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, quoting 'The Princess Bride' with 'Buddy, what fun we had storming the castle.' • Crystal praised the Reiners for their landmark role in U.S. marriage equality, drawing roaring applause from the audience. • Collaborators including Meg Ryan, Demi Moore, Kathy Bates, Kiefer Sutherland, and Mandy Patinkin joined Crystal onstage.

• Billy Crystal honored late director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner with a moving tribute at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, quoting 'The Princess Bride' with 'what fun we had storming the castle'. • Crystal praised the Reiners for their role in the landmark U.S. marriage equality decision, joined on stage by Meg Ryan, Demi Moore, Kathy Bates, Kiefer Sutherland, and Mandy Patinkin. • The tribute preceded the In Memoriam segment featuring Robert Redford, Val Kilmer, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, a Barbra Streisand performance, and Rachel McAdams speech.

The US Department of Justice issued subpoenas to NVIDIA investigating alleged 'loyalty penalties' that deter customers from rival AI hardware makers like Grok and Cerebras. This probe targets NVIDIA's dominance in AI chips, dubbed the 'new oil,' amid warnings that such chips will stay US-based without foreign investment in American manufacturing. The action intensifies semiconductor sovereignty battles, potentially reshaping competition as AI infrastructure surges.