A New Mexico jury has ordered social media giant Meta to pay a staggering $375 million for harming children's mental health and making them vulnerable to sexual exploitation. This landmark verdict marks the first time a US state has successfully sued Meta over child safety, with jurors agreeing the company prioritized profits over its younger users' well-being.
Global business activity significantly slowed in March across the U.S., Europe, and parts of Asia, fueled by surging energy prices and heightened uncertainty stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict. This downturn is evident in an 11-month low U.S. PMI, delayed ECB interest rate cuts, and companies building "safety stocks" amid disrupted global supplies and rising inflation expectations.
Amidst escalating regional tensions, the Pentagon is reportedly preparing to deploy fewer than 1,500 troops from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. This strategic military movement comes as Iran launches missiles at Israel, further heightening the conflict and causing significant disruptions to global trade and energy markets via the critical Strait of Hormuz.
India's Supreme Court has affirmed that only individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism are eligible for Scheduled Caste status, a landmark decision that excludes those who convert to other religions like Christianity from receiving associated benefits. This ruling, which upholds a previous high court decision, is rooted in Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950, solidifying the legal framework for caste-based affirmative action.
CERN scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery, successfully detecting the elusive Ξcc⁺ particle, a heavy relative of the proton, after years of dedicated searching. This significant find not only confirms the power of CERN's upgraded detectors but also offers crucial new insights into the strong force that binds quarks together.
World Tuberculosis Day, observed annually on March 24th, highlights the urgent global fight against TB, which remains a leading infectious killer despite being preventable and curable. The 2026 theme, "Yes! We Can End TB: Led by countries. Powered by people," stresses the critical need for accelerated action, stronger political will, and increased funding to eliminate the disease.
