Belgium at risk of becoming ‘narco-state’, judge warns 09. March 2026 (06:00) President of Antwerp court makes comments after anonymous judge warned country was turning into ‘a narco-state’International drug crime poses a danger to social stability in Belgium, a senior judge has said, after his colleague warned the country was evolving into “a narco-state” where mafia groups were forming “a parallel force” in society.Bart Willocx, the president of the Antwerp court of appeal, said Belgium was vulnerable to criminality from drug smuggling through the city’s vast port, one of the main entry points into Europe for cocaine smugglers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gambling crackdown in Romania as councils can ban betting shops and slot machines 09. March 2026 (06:00) At least nine cities to pursue full bans as emergency decree gives decisive veto powers to mayors and local councilsRomania’s government has overhauled gambling regulations through an emergency decree allowing municipalities to restrict or ban betting shops and slot machine halls in the biggest tightening of the industry the country has seen.Licensed operators must now obtain not only a national permit but also local authorisation to open a gambling venue, giving mayors and local councils a decisive veto power. Officials say more than 200 localities could pursue full bans. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as Iran’s new supreme leader; oil prices soar past $100 a barrel 09. March 2026 (05:47) Iran has named hardliner Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader; Donald Trump says oil price spike ‘a small price to pay’ as markets tumbleFull report: Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba chosen as Iran’s new supreme leaderTell us: how have you been affected by the latest events in the Middle East?Donald Trump has said a decision on when to end the war with Iran will be a “mutual” one he’ll make together with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Times of Israel has reported.It said Trump also claimed in a brief telephone interview on Sunday that Iran would have destroyed Israel if he and Netanyahu had not been around. The US president said:Iran was going to destroy Israel and everything else around it … We’ve worked together. We’ve destroyed a country that wanted to destroy Israel.I think it’s mutual … a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything’s going to be taken into account. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘A saltwater crocodile on the AFL oval’: worst flooding in decades inundates NT as residents urged to avoid water 09. March 2026 (05:36) Schools and highways close and Territorians living near major rivers leave amid possibly record-breaking rainFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastKatherine’s mayor has warned locals to be wary of flood waters inundating the town after a crocodile was spotted on the town’s AFL oval, as residents are warned to boil their water amid the record-breaking deluge.As rain and storms continued to soak the Top End on Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued major flood warnings for thousands of Territorians near the Katherine, Daly and Georgina rivers and Eyre Creek, with a flood watch covering nearly a dozen river catchments. The bureau also warned of severe thunderstorms and heavy rain in Darwin. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Obnoxious American Airlines passenger has meltdown as she's kicked off for playing videos on loudspeaker
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Ian Huntley told woman pen pal 'I've had a lot to deal with lately' in letter written eight days before double child killer was fatally struck by 3ft metal pole in jail