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At the start of 2026 Pakistan was sitting on a surplus of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG). Three consecutive years of falling demand – from a peak of 8.2 million tonnes in 2021 to 6.1 million tonnes by late 2025 – were driven by cheap solar panels and reduced industrial activity. The government responded by quietly selling excess cargoes abroad and shutting down domestic wells to avoid over‑pressurising pipelines. Any gas that could not be diverted would have been pushed into household networks at a loss, adding billions to the sector’s crippling debt. Everything changed on 28 February when the United States and Israel launched the "Epic Fury" operation against Iran. The strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and targeted missile sites, air defences and military infrastructure. Iran retaliated with hundreds of missiles and drones, choking traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint for roughly 20 % of global oil and gas. As part of its retaliation, Iranian drones hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City on 2 March, the world’s largest LNG export hub. Qatar, the second‑largest LNG exporter after the United States, declared force majeure and halted all production, releasing it from contractual delivery obligations. The fallout was immediate. Qatar’s forced shutdown cut its LNG output by 17 % and disrupted the supply chain that fuels Pakistan, which sources almost all of its imported gas from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan’s LNG arrivals plummeted from 12 shipments in January to just two in March. Monthly cargo data from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) show that the country received between eight and twelve shipments a month through 2025, but only two arrived after the conflict began. Price pressure followed. On 13 February state‑owned Pakistan State Oil and Pakistan LNG Limited bought eight cargoes at an average of $10.47 per MMBtu (totaling $257.1 million). By 12 March the two cargoes that did arrive cost $12.49 per MMBtu – a 19 % increase in just one month. Long‑term contracts have left Pakistan with little flexibility. Two government‑to‑government agreements with Qatar, spanning 15 and 10 years, commit the country to nine shipments a month. Even as domestic demand fell – LNG’s share of Asian markets dropped from ~30 % in 2020 to ~18 % in 2025 – the contracts remained binding. Solarisation has been a double‑edged sword. By 2025 Pakistan installed 34 GW of solar capacity, with about 25 GW feeding the national grid, driving an 11 % decline in overall electricity demand between 2022 and 2025. Gas‑fired power plants built for imported LNG are now under‑utilised, especially during daylight hours. Analysts warn that the surplus was predictable. “Pakistan’s energy planning has been locked into long‑term contracts with little room for adjustment,” says Haneea Isaad of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The resulting circular debt now stands at 3.3 trillion rupees (≈ $11 billion), and the government is negotiating to off‑load 177 unwanted shipments worth $5.6 billion through 2031. With Qatar’s LNG shipments effectively halted, the country faces a potential shortfall of more than 21 % of its power generation capacity. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority confirmed that LNG supplies are under force majeure, while coal imports from South Africa and Indonesia continue. To mitigate the gap, Pakistan is reviving domestic gas production that had been throttled during the surplus period. Roughly 350–400 million cubic feet per day of domestic gas were previously held back for LNG imports, now being released to the grid. Nevertheless, analysts caution that even with restored domestic gas, imported coal and hydropower, “the energy shortage may persist, especially during the peak summer months.” Summer pressure is already building. The State of Industry Report 2025 recorded peak electricity demand of over 33,000 MW last summer, while winter demand sits around 15,000 MW, helped by solar generation of 9,000–10,000 MW daily. Furnace oil, the primary backup fuel, now costs 35 rupees per unit (≈ $0.12), more than double since the Strait of Hormuz disruption. Consumers with grid electricity face higher bills and possible outages; industrial users reliant on gas risk production cuts; those equipped with rooftop solar and battery storage are best insulated. “Returning to the spot market is unlikely given Pakistan’s dire financial position, and competing with wealthier nations would price the country out,” Isaad warns. “The realistic outcome may be planned load‑shedding of two to three hours daily.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed Army Chief of Staff General Randy A. George to step down with immediate effect, a move announced on X by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on Thursday. The statement said George would "retire from his position" but offered no explanation, a notable omission given the ongoing US‑Israel war against Iran.The abrupt removal adds to a string of high‑profile dismissals that have occurred since Hegseth assumed office in January. CBS first reported the decision, citing a source who said Hegseth seeks a leader who will execute his and President Donald Trump's strategic vision for the Army.Appointed in 2023 under former President Joe Biden, the 61‑year‑old General George brought extensive combat experience from Iraq and Afghanistan. During his tenure he was praised for cutting redundancies and championing new technologies such as low‑cost missile‑interceptor drones and artificial‑intelligence‑driven targeting systems.According to The New York Times, the firing may be tied to a dispute over Hegseth’s decision to block the promotion of four officers from a list of 29. While most of the blocked officers were white men, the two remaining were Black and two were women, prompting senior officers to question whether racial or gender bias influenced the action. When General George sought a meeting with Hegseth to discuss the matter, the defense secretary reportedly refused.In addition to George, Hegseth dismissed two other senior officials on Thursday: General David M. Hodne, head of the Army’s Transformation and Training Command responsible for modernization efforts, and Major General William Green Jr., the Army’s chief of chaplains. The Pentagon has not formally confirmed these removals, though the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a tribute praising George’s decades of service.The personnel shake‑up unfolds against a broader backdrop in which US and Israeli officials have framed the Iran war as a religious undertaking. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation reported receiving complaints that senior commanders described the conflict as aiming to bring about “Armageddon” or the biblical “end times.”Earlier, in October, former Army Vice Chief of Staff General James J. Mingus retired a year ahead of schedule, with no reasons disclosed, adding to speculation about internal turbulence within the Pentagon.

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Pam Bondi is being removed as Attorney General, ending a contentious 14‑month stint at the Justice Department. Bondi, who described her upcoming shift to the private sector as a "transition," will leave the post within the next month. In a rapid reshuffle, Trump elevated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—who previously served as the former president’s criminal‑defense lawyer—to acting attorney general. The president also hinted that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin could become the permanent replacement, signaling a continued preference for close allies in key legal roles. Bondi’s ouster follows a series of high‑profile controversies. Most notably, her management of the Jeffrey Epstein files drew intense scrutiny. After promising full transparency, the Justice Department released heavily redacted documents that failed to satisfy public and congressional demands for a "client list" and other evidence. Critics, including victims’ attorney Gloria Allred, called her departure "long overdue" for mishandling the files. Beyond the Epstein saga, Bondi struggled to deliver the political prosecutions Trump expected. Efforts to pursue former FBI Director James Comey and other officials linked to investigations of the president stalled or collapsed, fueling Trump’s frustration that she was not "weaponising" the department aggressively enough against his perceived enemies. Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and the state’s first female AG, built a reputation on tough‑on‑crime initiatives such as combating human trafficking and cracking down on "pill mills." However, her limited involvement in the original Epstein non‑prosecution deal and her heated exchange with a Democratic lawmaker—where she called him a "washed‑up loser"—further eroded confidence in her leadership. The White House confirmed that Bondi’s private‑sector role will be announced "in the near future," while Blanche issued a statement on X thanking Trump for the trust placed in him and pledging to "continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and keeping America safe." Congressional oversight intensifies as the House Oversight Committee had scheduled Bondi to appear before it on April 14 to answer questions about the Epstein documents. With her exit, committee chair James Comer said Republicans would deliberate whether to pursue the subpoena, while Democrats, led by Robert Garcia, insist she "will not escape accountability." Reactions span the political spectrum: Democrats such as Senator Elizabeth Warren denounced the DOJ under Bondi as a "cesspool of corruption," whereas Republican Senator Chuck Grassley praised her responsiveness to oversight and noted a decline in violent crime during her tenure. Republican Thomas Massie urged the next AG to release all Epstein files and pursue arrests. As the administration searches for a permanent attorney general, the choice between Blanche and Zeldin will signal how closely Trump intends to align the Justice Department with his political agenda moving forward.

Arsenal’s loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final has haunted manager Mikel Arteta ever since the 2‑0 defeat at Wembley, where Nico O’Reilly scored both goals to crush the Gunners’ quadruple hopes.Artura described the aftermath as “a ball of poison in my stomach”, saying the feeling could linger for “the next 30 years” unless he channels it into improvement.He emphasized that the pain must be converted into motivation to secure silverware before the season ends, insisting the sting of the loss will remain a driving force for weeks, months and years to come.In the wake of the final, Arteta faced criticism for keeping Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal despite the keeper’s error that led to the first goal. The manager defended his choice, stating, “I never judge a player solely on an error; attitude and behaviour matter 100%.” He added that Arrizabalaga’s experience makes him ready for the upcoming FA Cup sixth‑round clash with Southampton.Artura also hinted at his selection criteria for the Southampton match, joking that the goalkeeper would be “European, under 32, right‑footed and speaks at least two languages.” While David Raya started the Carabao Cup final, the Spaniard is expected to feature again in the FA Cup run.Regarding squad availability, Arteta confirmed that Declan Rice is operating at only 70% fitness, a condition that has persisted for some time, and noted that Piero Hincapié and Noni Madueke will miss the Southampton game. He left open the possibility that Martin Ødegaard and Jurrien Timber could feature.Addressing criticism over the number of international withdrawals, Artura said, “It’s part of the narrative, but we’ve dealt with similar situations before; we’ll see who is available tomorrow and adjust accordingly.”

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has expressed no regrets over his treatment of Mohamed Salah, emphasizing that the decision to leave the club was solely the forward's. Salah announced his departure from Liverpool at the end of the season, 12 months before his contract was set to expire.Slot faced the media for the first time since Salah's announcement and chose not to disclose the reasons or timing of the forward's decision. He believes it is up to Salah to explain his reasons for exiting the club. The Liverpool head coach was questioned about being perceived as the 'bad guy' behind Salah's departure, particularly following the player's criticism at Leeds in December. Slot responded by stating that he wouldn't have handled the situation differently and doesn't regret many of his decisions during his time with Salah.Slot also denied that allowing Salah to leave on a free transfer indicates the club is happy to let him go. He emphasized that Salah has earned the right to decide when he should leave, having done many great things for the club.As Liverpool prepares for their FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City, Slot confirmed he is heavily involved in planning for this summer's transfer window.

A Malaysian tree climber, Jami, shares their extraordinary experience of climbing the world's tallest tropical tree, a 100.8-meter yellow meranti in Borneo's rainforest. Growing up around logging camps, Jami developed a passion for conservation while working with the South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership in the Danum Valley. Jami's journey into tree climbing began when they saw colleagues measuring tree heights and monitoring wildlife from the canopy. Despite an initial fear of heights, Jami was determined to challenge themselves and contribute to conservation research. The climb, which took over two hours, was a slow and meticulous process. Jami had to carefully assess the tree's branches for strength and watch out for potential dangers like snakes, scorpions, and insects. At one point, Jami was attacked by bees and received over 100 stings. Upon reaching 70 meters, Jami's fear subsided, and they began to appreciate the wider landscape. The view from the top was breathtaking, with the rainforest's canopy resembling the sea and clouds peeking over the forest. Jami measured the tree's final height using a pole and confirmed it to be 100.8 meters tall. Jami emphasizes the importance of preserving the world's forests, stating that every tree tells a unique story about our history. For Jami, the experience of climbing the tallest tropical tree was a reminder of the serenity and beauty of nature, and they hope to inspire others to join conservation efforts.

NASA's Artemis II mission has reached a critical phase as the four astronauts on board have successfully fired up their spacecraft's engine to break away from Earth's orbit and embark on a trajectory towards the moon. This historic moment marks the first crewed lunar flyby in over half a century. The Orion capsule's engine blasted off on Thursday, propelling the astronauts on their 10-day mission, which includes looping around the moon. The burn, lasting just under six minutes, provided enough thrust to accelerate a stationary car to highway-driving speed in less than three seconds. The mission control team in Houston confirmed the successful burn, stating, 'Looks like a good burn, we're confirming.' The astronauts, consisting of Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen, are now on a 'free return' trajectory, utilizing the moon's gravity to slingshot around it before heading back towards Earth without propulsion. The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards establishing a permanent human presence on the moon, with the ultimate goal of landing humans on the lunar surface by 2028. This mission also marks a series of historic firsts, including the first person of color, the first woman, and the first non-American on a lunar mission. The spacecraft's crew spent their initial hours in space performing checks and troubleshooting minor issues, including a communications problem and a malfunctioning toilet. They also began their fitness routine on the spacecraft's 'flywheel exercise device' to minimize muscle and bone loss in microgravity. NASA's Artemis program has been portrayed as a competitive effort with China, which aims to land humans on the moon by 2030. The program has faced pressure from various quarters, including former President Trump, who has pushed for an accelerated pace. The mission's commander, Reid Wiseman, described the breathtaking view of Earth from space, saying, 'You can see the entire globe from pole to pole... It was the most spectacular moment and it paused all four of us in our tracks.'

Legal groups in Uganda have strongly condemned the arrival of a dozen deportees from the United States, calling the deportation process 'undignified, harrowing and dehumanising'. The Uganda Law Society and the East Africa Law Society have taken the matter to court, seeking relief to halt what they describe as 'patent international illegality'.The deportation marks the first confirmed instance of deportees being transferred from the US to Uganda. The 12 individuals reportedly landed at Entebbe International Airport by private aircraft. No identifying information about the deportees has been provided.The deportation is part of President Donald Trump's efforts to offload immigrants to 'third countries' where they have no personal connections. Uganda is one of several countries that have agreed to accept deported foreigners, including Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Sudan.The deal with Uganda was confirmed by the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs last August, stating it was a 'temporary arrangement' with priority given to deportees from other African countries. Unaccompanied children and people with criminal records are excluded from the deal.Critics have raised concerns about the safety of countries receiving US deportees, citing human rights abuses in Uganda. The US has previously criticised Uganda for 'significant human rights abuses', including extrajudicial killings, life-threatening prison conditions, and torture.The Trump administration has defended the deportations as legal under the US Immigration and Nationality Act, citing diplomatic assurances from 'third countries' that deportees would not face persecution. However, the policy has faced numerous legal challenges, with concerns about immigrants' due process rights.

Jaume Guardeno, a 23‑year‑old rider for the Spanish Caja Rural‑RGA squad, was airlifted to Hospital Taulí in Sabadell on Tuesday after a training accident that ended in a collision with a car.The team confirmed that Guardeno suffered a serious head injury when his bike hit a stone, causing him to lose control and strike the vehicle. He was immediately transferred by helicopter to the intensive‑care unit, where he remains under close observation.Guardeno had just completed the Tour of Catalonia, finishing 29th, and previously placed 14th in last year’s Vuelta a España, marking him as a promising talent in Spanish road cycling.“We want to express all our support and strength to Jaume and his family during this time, wishing him a speedy and full recovery,” the Caja Rural‑RGA team statement read.In related cycling news, former Olympic champion Richard Carapaz announced that he has undergone surgery for a perineal condition ahead of the upcoming Giro d'Italia. The 32‑year‑old Ecuadorian, who won the Giro in 2019 and secured podium finishes in 2022 and 2023, said the procedure was handled "in the best possible way" and that he is now focused on recovery.Carapaz, a gold‑medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, missed the Tour de France and Vuelta a España last season due to illness. He aims to return to peak form in time to contest a fourth Giro podium.