Rally

Men in tuxedos and women in dresses dove under tables, like a scene from a dozen Hollywood movies, but now it was happening to meShocking. Unnerving. Unpredictable. Violent. For a decade I have been following the twists and turns of Donald Trump’s America with the privilege of journalistic distance. On Saturday night I felt the darkness come viscerally close.Bang! Bang! What was that? Where was it? At 8.36pm panic and pandemonium reigned in the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel. There were men running and cries of “Get down!” and “Stay down!” Continue reading...

CSIRO researcher says there are reports of up to 4,000 mouse burrows per hectare in parts of Western AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGrain growers are on high alert as mouse numbers in Western Australia reach plague proportions and numbers surge in South Australia.Steve Henry, who researches mice and their impact on the grain industry at CSIRO, says more than 800 mice per hectare is considered a plague. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Home secretary understood to have withdrawn authorisation for speaker at Unite the Kingdom rally in MayA US-based anti-Islam influencer who had been authorised to attend a far-right rally in London has been blocked from entering the UK by the home secretary.Valentina Gomez, a self-styled Maga influencer, was given permission last week to enter via a UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA). Continue reading...

The prime minister’s leadership is still in the spotlight after Mandelson was appointed US ambassador after he failed security vettingLiz Kendall has repeated David Lammy’s claim the prime minister would have stopped Peter Mandelson’s appointment if he had known the peer had failed security vetting.Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News on Sunday, the science and technology said Keir Starmer was a “man of integrity”. Continue reading...

Exiled leader to revive push for change amid US backing of Delcy Rodríguez and delays to democratic transitionVenezuela’s opposition leader, María Corina Machado, will seek to revive her push for political change with a rally in Madrid on Saturday, having found herself sidelined by Donald Trump after the abduction of the president Nicolás Maduro.“Venezuela will be free,” the Nobel peace prize winner insisted in an interview on the eve of this weekend’s demonstration in the Puerta del Sol square, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters. Continue reading...

• Oil prices dropped significantly, providing tailwinds for technology companies as lower energy costs reduce operational expenses and improve profit margins across the sector. • Constellation Research founder R 'Ray' Wang discussed the direct relationship between Big Tech performance and oil and gas pricing, highlighting how the energy market collapse supports tech stock rebounds. • The decline in energy costs removes a key headwind for capital-intensive tech operations and data centers, contributing to the broader market rally.

Homelessness charity distances itself after Osbourne says she plans to attend far-right ‘unite the kingdom’ marchThe homelessness charity Centrepoint has confirmed it will cut ties with its celebrity ambassador Sharon Osbourne after she expressed support for a far-right rally being organised by Tommy Robinson.The charity, of which the Prince of Wales is patron, has been forced to distance itself from comments made by Osbourne. The TV personality indicated this week that she would be attending an event organised in London by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Continue reading...

Celebrities including Annie Lennox and Miriam Margolyes sign letter to force after pro-Palestine march route rejectedAnnie Lennox and Miriam Margolyes are among artists who have accused the Metropolitan police of giving preferential treatment to a far-right demonstration led by Tommy Robinson over a pro-Palestine protest in London on the same day.The pro-Palestine movement has had its preferred route through central London for its annual commemoration of Nakba – the mass expulsion of Palestinians – rejected by the Met, while the “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration will take place on the same date in Kingsway, the Strand, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and Parliament Square. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posted on X: “London is ours on May 16th.” Continue reading...

Some underscore Trump’s unprecedented court appearance as protesters defend 14th amendment rightAround 250 demonstrators packed the steps of the supreme court on Wednesday, chanting in defense of birthright citizenship as Donald Trump himself watched from the public gallery in an unprecedented appearance.Beija McCarter, an eighth grade US history teacher, and Noah Goldstein, a New Yorker who was also at last month’s trans rights rally, both arrived at the demonstration with little optimism about what the justices inside might decide. Continue reading...

• Asian equity markets surged following signals from Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian indicating willingness to pursue a ceasefire with the United States, with Trump stating military action could conclude within two to three weeks. • South Korea's Kospi jumped 8.1% to 5,461.51, Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 4.5% to 53,352.96, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 2% amid improved investor sentiment. • The geopolitical shift triggered broad rallies across Asia-Pacific exchanges including Australia's ASX 200 climbing 2% and Taiwan's Taiex jumping 4.4%.

US president’s claim that conflict is nearing end prompts 15% drop in Brent crude and stock market climb in AsiaBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices tumbled and stock markets rallied across the world on Wednesday after Donald Trump said the war in Iran would end in “two to three weeks”.Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, dropped to $99.78 a barrel, down more than 15% compared with its price on Tuesday – its lowest level in a week. Continue reading...

• Equity markets reacted positively after Iranian state media indicated willingness to end the conflict with the US, contingent on certain conditions, as reported in Bloomberg coverage. • President Trump described potential US exit from Iran as 'very soon,' predicting sharp drops in gasoline prices and improved safety from neutralized nuclear threats. • The month-long war has spiked fuel costs, affecting grocery prices as noted by industry figures like Stew Leonard Jr.

• The S&P 500 rose over 1.5% and Nasdaq climbed nearly 2% Monday after the White House signaled it may abandon America's role in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump telling allies on Truth Social to "build up some delayed courage" and secure the strait themselves. • Trump wrote on social media: "You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us," signaling a potential shift toward military disengagement despite ongoing operations. • The mixed messaging coincides with U.S. gas prices crossing $4 per gallon Tuesday—up more than $1 from February 27—marking the first time since 2022's Ukraine crisis energy shock, while Trump's approval rating has dropped to -16.7, a record low for his second term.

Lawyers for Liam Alexander Hall say the 32-year-old is undergoing treatment in custodyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLawyers acting for Liam Alexander Hall, a 32-year-old man accused of attempting to bomb an Invasion Day rally in Perth, have foreshadowed a potential not guilty by insanity plea.Hall was scheduled to appear before magistrate Matthew Walton via video link from Western Australia’s most secure psychiatric facility on Tuesday, but did not. Instead the case was adjourned until May. Continue reading...

More than 3,000 No Kings events scheduled in cities and towns in third set of protests since Trump re-electionWhat to know about the third No Kings protests happening in MarchGood morning. Today our US politics blog will cover the third No Kings march as millions of people are expected to protest against the Trump administration at more than 3,000 events across the United States.A flagship event will be held in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, where massive anti-ICE demonstrations broke out earlier this year after federal agents killed two residents. Continue reading...

Actor outside Kennedy Center urges Americans to ‘stand tall against authoritarianism’ and resist free-speech threatsThe actor Jane Fonda joined journalists, musicians and writers outside Washington’s John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in urging US citizens to “break your silence” and “stand tall against authoritarianism”.At a damp but defiant rally hosted by Fonda’s Committee for the First Amendment on Friday, around a hundred invited guests gathered to hear speakers and singers rail against book bans, political censorship and other threats to free speech under Donald Trump. Continue reading...

• Hundreds gathered on Boston Common on a recent cold Saturday afternoon, waving signs, banners, and chanting calls to action in a rally supporting science amid federal funding uncertainties. • The event highlights growing concerns over U.S. science budget cuts, echoing national surveys showing researcher layoffs and lab disruptions. • Participants demanded sustained investment in research breakthroughs, peer-reviewed studies, and institutions like NIH, drawing from Manchester's LHCb success as a model for curiosity-driven science.

• Federal grant funding for FQHCs stayed flat from 2019-2023 while health care costs rose over 25%, leading to negative margins of 2.1% by 2024. • An estimated 11.8 million Americans will lose Medicaid coverage due to $344 billion cuts over the next decade, overwhelming FQHCs with uninsured patients. • Recent closures include a New Hampshire rural site in 2025 and six South Carolina locations last year due to shortfalls.

• Technology stocks surged on March 16 as inflation fears subsided, with the SPDR Select Sector Technology ETF rising nearly 2%, though it remains down year-to-date amid ongoing doubts about AI boom sustainability. • Micron Technology shares rallied after announcing plans to build a second manufacturing site in Taiwan to produce high-demand AI memory products, while Nebius signed a five-year, $27 billion deal with Meta to supply AI infrastructure capacity. • Cybersecurity experts warn that data breaches and hacking tactics have become weapons of war alongside traditional military hardware, raising risks for civilian companies caught in cross-fire.

• West Texas Intermediate crude topped $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022 in early Monday trading, while Brent held above $102, driven by ongoing Middle East conflict in the Strait of Hormuz entering its third week. • Several tankers successfully transited the waterway over the weekend, lifting market sentiment; however, WTI pulled back to $95 by late trading, down over 3%, as President Trump pressured NATO allies to help break Iran's blockade. • The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq rose as investors weighed the dual impact of potential Hormuz reopening against inflation concerns; Federal Reserve officials begin a two-day policy meeting this week amid uncertainty over rate path decisions.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gather on one side of Thames as those backing US-Israel war on Iran meet on the otherTwelve people were arrested as hundreds joined a pro-Palestinian al-Quds Day demonstration on one side of the Thames, while hundreds more gathered on the opposite bank to back Israeli and American attacks on Iran.At least 1,000 police officers were drafted in to keep the two rival protests apart. Lambeth Bridge, the nearest river crossing to each rally, remained closed on Sunday afternoon. Continue reading...

The US announced partial rollback of AI semiconductor export restrictions on March 13, 2026, targeting key technologies amid global competition. This move is poised to boost domestic chipmakers ahead of Nvidia's GTC event next week. Nvidia, HBM, and related AI plays face heightened focus with potential upside. Policy shift aims to balance national security and industry growth.

Exxon Mobil and Chevron shares surged over 20% year-to-date, reaching record highs as crude oil approached $100 per barrel due to supply fears. U.S. oil producers benefit from domestic output buffering global disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. This sector strength offsets broader market declines, with the Dow down 6% monthly. Analysts warn of inflation risks persisting post-conflict.

Demonstrators on Sunday will be arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action or intifada chants, says MetPolice have warned demonstrators that they will be arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action or intifada chants at a protest on Sunday.About 12,000 people are expected to take part in the annual al-Quds Day rally in London, an international demonstration of support for Palestinian rights. The event takes its name from the Arabic version of Jerusalem and was created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after Iran’s 1979 revolution. Continue reading...

Verizon Communications emerged as a key stock to watch on March 13, 2026, following the major indexes' rally failure with Nasdaq down 0.9% below its 200-day line. Analysts highlight Verizon's defensive qualities amid S&P 500 and Dow approaching key support levels near their 200-day moving averages. The telecom giant could benefit from heightened volatility as investors seek stability post-oil surge. Next week's trading will test if telecoms lead any market recovery.

Verizon shares drew attention on March 13, 2026, as investors assessed positioning following a broader market rally failure amid index declines. The telecom giant held relative strength near key technical levels despite Nasdaq dropping below its 200-day line. Analysts highlight Verizon's defensive appeal with stable dividends in volatile conditions. Upcoming earnings could drive further movement if subscriber growth beats estimates.

MARA Holdings jumped more than 12% on March 13, 2026, driven by renewed interest in digital asset mining amid broader market volatility. Crypto-related firms outperformed as AI, semiconductors, and EV stocks showed mixed resilience, with Intel up 1.7% on chip production optimism and NIO rising 4%. This momentum underscores investor rotation toward high-growth sectors despite S&P 500's weekly 1.1% decline. Traders eye sustained crypto interest if oil stabilizes over the weekend.

On March 13, 2026, thousands filled Tehran's streets for Al-Quds Day celebrations marking the third week of war with the US and Israel, highlighting ongoing anti-Western sentiment. Concurrently, polls show waning American tolerance for the protracted conflict, with growing domestic calls for de-escalation amid economic strain. The rallies underscore Iran's resolve, potentially complicating diplomatic efforts as the US bolsters its Middle East presence.