US stocks record biggest drop since start of Iran war

Gokhan ErgocunFriday March 27, 2026 Markets on Thursday traded under a heavy cloud of uncertainty, with the New York Stock Exchange recording its steepest one-day decline since the start of the Iran war amid heightened tensions across the Middle East. The Dow slid 1.01%, losing 469.38 points to end at 45,960.11. The Nasdaq Composite fell 2.38%, or 521.74 points, to 21,408.08, while the S&P 500 dropped 1.74%, down 114.74 points, to close at 6,477.16. The Volatility Index (VIX), commonly dubbed the market’s “fear index,”…

Rubio Says G7 Nations Should Back Reopening of Strait of Hormuz

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued Friday that it would benefit every G7 member to press for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route currently blocked by Iran. Rubio made the case as he prepared to fly to France for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers scheduled outside Paris, saying bluntly that assisting in any effort to restore access “is in their interest.” The trip marks Rubio’s first return to international travel since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28.…

Zimbabwe Officially Enacts Ban on Second-Hand Clothing

In a decisive move to reshape the apparel market, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has enacted a formal ban on importing second-hand clothing, tightening entry rules for these goods with permits now issued only under stringent conditions. The step comes amid ongoing concerns about the country’s fragile clothing value chain and the pressure it faces from cheaper, imported stock. Marketers have questioned the timing, warning that while the policy is billed as a lifeline for local manufacturers, it should be calibrated to…

Iran and U.S. harden positions in talks to end nearly month-old war

Iran and the United States stood at a stubborn impasse Thursday, each digging in over ceasefire terms as diplomacy stalled and fears of further escalation grew with more U.S. forces nearing the Middle East. At the same time, President Donald Trump extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, pushing it to April 6. Tehran also tightened its control over the waterway, while Israel increased troop levels in southern Lebanon as it continued fighting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. In Israel, sirens…

US currency bears Trump’s image and signature despite federal law

President Donald Trump’s signature is set to appear on new U.S. paper currency, the Treasury Department announced, a development that would mark the first time a sitting president’s name has been placed on dollar bills and arrives as the nation prepares to observe its 250th anniversary. Under longstanding practice, the signatures on American dollar notes have belonged to the Treasurer of the United States and the secretary of the Treasury. The plan to put Mr Trump’s name on currency has drawn criticism from Democratic…

State of the Nation Today: Current Issues, Economic Trends & What Lies Ahead

By Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame Friday March 27, 2026 The country stands at a critical crossroads. A combination of public asset disposals, widespread displacement, and intensifying economic and political pressures is steadily shaping a fragile and potentially volatile reality. These developments are not occurring in isolation—they are interconnected forces driving the nation toward an uncertain and potentially dangerous future. What is unfolding is not merely a period of difficulty; it is a defining moment that requires…

Study Finds 6 Popular Frozen Pizzas Contain Significant Nutrition Red Flags

Healthiest to “Red Flag” Frozen Pepperoni Pizzas Nutrition label comparisons of six frozen pepperoni pizzas show wide differences in calories, sodium, saturated fat, carbs and protein. The nutrition profiles provided for six frozen pizzas were assessed per the stated serving size for each product, focusing on factors such as calories, sodium, saturated fat, carbohydrates and protein to determine which options appear less or more nutritionally concerning. Screamin' Sicilian Holy Pepperoni Nutrition (per 1/5 pizza…

France Revokes South Africa’s Invitation to the G7 Summit

France has revoked South Africa’s invitation to the forthcoming G7 summit, removing Pretoria from the guest list for the high-profile gathering. Paris rejected early claims that Washington had pushed for the exclusion, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa likewise dismissed suggestions of U.S. pressure. South Africa, not a G7 member, had been slated to attend as an observer. French officials said they were pursuing a “streamlined G7” and have invited Kenya instead, citing its role in helping France prepare a major…

Somali forces and AU troops kill more than 42 al-Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — More than 40 al-Shabab militants were killed on Thursday when the group tried to reclaim a town recently taken in southern Somalia, according to officials. The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) said the clashes broke out in Mubarak, a strategically placed settlement in the Lower Shabelle region that joint forces from the Somali National Armed Forces and African Union troops seized earlier this month. According to AUSSOM, militants launched an attack on…