Irish metals refinery is in supply chain that feeds Russian war machine, records suggest

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Shipments to Russian smelters from Aughinish Alumina have increased sharply since the invasion of Ukraine

A leading Irish metals refinery is part of an international aluminium supply chain that appears to conclude with shipments to arms producers feeding the Kremlin’s war machine in Ukraine, leaked records and public data suggests.

Trading records show that shipments to Russian smelters from Aughinish Alumina, which is located on the Shannon estuary in the west of Ireland and has been owned by the Russian aluminium group Rusal since 2006, have increased sharply since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Japan to begin biggest-ever oil release from national reserves as Middle East energy crisis bites

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PM Sanae Takaichi says about 80m barrels of stockpiled oil to be provided to refiners – equivalent to 45 days of domestic demand

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Japan will begin the biggest-ever release of oil from its strategic reserves this week, the prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has said, as the country braces for possible shortages caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.

The government last week approved the release of 15 days’ worth of private-sector reserves, amid concern that the conflict in the Middle East will continue to hinder the flow of tanker traffic along the strait of Hormuz.

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North Korea’s Kim vows to ‘irreversibly’ cement nuclear status – Politico

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  1. North Korea's Kim vows to ‘irreversibly’ cement nuclear status  Politico
  2. How North Korea’s Kim Jong-un Is Using the Iran War to Justify His Nuclear Arsenal  The New York Times
  3. Kim Jong Un says North Korea’s nuclear status is irreversible, threatens South  Reuters
  4. N. Korea's Kim Vows 'Irreversible' Nuclear Status, Warns Seoul Of 'Merciless' Response  Barron's
  5. Kim Jong-un Labels South Korea Most Hostile Nation  조선일보
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Israel launches new strikes on Tehran as Trump pauses Iran energy attacks – The Guardian

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  1. Israel launches new strikes on Tehran as Trump pauses Iran energy attacks  The Guardian
  2. Iran Update Special Report, March 22, 2026  Institute for the Study of War
  3. IDF says it struck Islamic Guards HQ in Tehran; man lightly wounded as Iran keeps up strikes  The Times of Israel
  4. ‘Unprecedented’: Israel, US carry out extensive strikes across Iran  Al Jazeera
  5. Israeli military says it is conducting strikes in Tehran  Reuters
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New Zealand to give cash payments to some low income families as global fuel crisis worsens

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Policy begins on 1 April and is aimed to ease financial pressure as the price of fuel surges due to conflict in the Middle East

Nearly 150,000 New Zealand families will soon receive a weekly cash payment to help them afford petrol, the government has announced, in what is believed to be the world’s first fuel relief package that directly pays citizens since the Iran war began.

On Tuesday, prime minister Christopher Luxon and finance minister Nicola Willis announced roughly 143,000 families with children will get an extra NZ$50 ($29.20; £21.80) a week through a boost to the in-work tax credit – a payment to families with dependent children where at least one parent is in paid employment and neither parent receives benefits. Another 14,000 families on slightly higher incomes will also be eligible for payments, but will receive less than $50 per week.

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Hezbollah Rocket Narrowly Misses Kiryat Shmona Shliach – Anash.org

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  1. Hezbollah Rocket Narrowly Misses Kiryat Shmona Shliach  Anash.org
  2. Israel Says Its Own Artillery Killed a Farmer, Not a Hezbollah Rocket  The New York Times
  3. Woman declared dead after Hezbollah rocket attack, say first responders  The Times of Israel
  4. First Israeli civilian killed in Lebanon border war was hit by Israeli fire  Reuters
  5. As Hezbollah Steps Up Attacks, Who Really Calls The Shots?  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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Colombian military plane crash kills at least 66, wounds dozens – Al Jazeera

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  1. Colombian military plane crash kills at least 66, wounds dozens  Al Jazeera
  2. Military transport plane crashes in Colombia with 121 on board, dozens dead  France 24
  3. At least 66 killed in military plane crash in Colombia, head of armed forces says  NPR
  4. At least 66 killed after Colombian military plane crashes in southern Amazon  The Guardian
  5. Colombia military plane crash kills 66, four still missing  Reuters
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Hong Kong police can demand phone and computer passwords under amended national security law

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Refusing to comply could lead to year in jail and hefty fine, while providing false information carries up to three years in prison

Hong Kong police can now demand that people suspected of breaching the city’s national security law provide mobile phone or computer passwords in a further crackdown on dissent.

The amendments to the law also empower customs officers to seize items that are deemed to have “seditious intention”, regardless of whether any person has been arrested for an offence endangering national security because of the items.

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‘Absolute moral rigour’: new Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire’s ideals face stern test – The Guardian

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  1. ‘Absolute moral rigour’: new Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire’s ideals face stern test  The Guardian
  2. France's Socialists hold on to power in major cities in election boost for mainstream  BBC
  3. French Far Right Falls Short of Statement Win in Yardstick Local Races  The New York Times
  4. France municipal elections pose a key test for far right ahead of 2027 presidential race  NBC News
  5. After 25 years of socialist rule, where does Paris go now?  CNN
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Kim vows to ‘irreversibly’ cement North Korea’s nuclear status – AP News

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  1. Kim vows to ‘irreversibly’ cement North Korea’s nuclear status  AP News
  2. Kim Jong Un uses Iran war to justify North Korea’s decision to keep its nuclear weapons  CNN
  3. Kim vows to 'irreversibly' cement North Korea's nuclear status  NPR
  4. North Korean dictator says government will keep cementing nation's 'irreversible status as a nuclear power'  Fox News
  5. How North Korea’s Kim Jong-un Is Using the Iran War to Justify His Nuclear Arsenal  The New York Times
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Saudis and UAE Take Steps Toward Joining Iran War, WSJ Reports – Bloomberg.com

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  1. Saudis and UAE Take Steps Toward Joining Iran War, WSJ Reports  Bloomberg.com
  2. Gulf States Edge Toward Joining Fight Against Iran  WSJ
  3. Who are the Gulf’s military allies, and how are they helping in Iran war?  Al Jazeera
  4. Iran retaliation is forcing Gulf nations into a stark decision: whether to join the fight  NBC News
  5. Gulf states opposed war with Iran. Most are now pushing to keep the fight going  The Times of Israel
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Eight arrested for ‘brutal’ attack on capybara in Brazil

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In incident filmed by security cameras in Rio de Janeiro, group of attackers beat animal with sticks and iron bars

Police in Rio de Janeiro have arrested eight people for brutally beating a capybara – the world’s largest rodent.

Resembling a giant guinea pig, the light brown capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is often seen roaming the Brazilian city, particularly near streams and lagoons.

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