First Thing: Trump says US will blockade strait of Hormuz after Iran peace talks fail | US news

Good morning.

Donald Trump said that the United States will begin to blockade the Strait of Hormuz in order to take control of the vital waterway from Iran after peace talks between the two countries failed.

The president also threatened to bomb Iran’s water purification plants, power plants, and bridges if Tehran did not agree to abandon its nuclear weapons program; This is the main point of disagreement between the two sides. Face-to-face talks in Islamabad failed on Sunday morning.

In response, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard said that if any warship approached the strait to impose a blockade, it would be considered a violation of the existing ceasefire and would be dealt with harshly.

• When Will the blockade begin? U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced that the blockade will begin at 10 a.m. ET on Monday. Experts say that this situation may pose a risk of further increase in oil prices.

• Which ships will the blockade affect? Centcom said it would be limited to ships passing through Iranian ports and would allow passage to ships bound for ports belonging to US Gulf allies.

• How could a blockade help the US reopen the strait? The strategy appears that the US hopes to eliminate Tehran’s biggest trump card – its strait in the strait – by stopping Iran’s oil exports. Tehran has stated that it wants to keep control of the strait and charge ships after the war is over.

Hungarian opposition overthrows Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power

Hungary’s opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, won the election, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule in a result that thrilled EU leaders and likely shook the White House.

EU leaders praised Magyar after his decisive election victory over Orbán, who many see as a direct threat to Europe’s peace and prosperity. Orbán has repeatedly vetoed support for Ukraine, and his far-right government recently angered the EU by admitting during summits that it had provided a back channel to Russia.

• What does this mean for the far right on a global scale? The election was closely watched as a test of the strength of the far-right movement that Donald Trump is trying to spread around the world. Last week, vice president JD Vance went to Budapest and said he came to “help” Orbán, while Trump also supported the leader.

• By what margin did Tisza win? It has a super majority. With 98.74% of the votes counted, Tisza is predicted to win 138 of the 199 seats in the country’s parliament.

Eric Swalwell Withdrew from California governor race after sexual assault allegations

Rep. Eric Swalwell, the Democratic frontrunner in the crowded race to become governor of California, resigned following a series of allegations of sexual assault and misconduct by a former staffer and at least three women.

The woman, who worked for the California congressman, said he sexually assaulted her twice while she was too drunk to consent, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle. Three other women accused Swalwell of sending them unsolicited nude photos or explicit messages, CNN reported.

• How’s Swalwell? Did he respond? “He will fight the serious, unfounded allegations that have been made, but this is my fight, not a campaign’s,” he said.

In other news…

• Donald Trump has launched an extraordinary attack on Pope Leo, calling him “weak” and “terrible.” He claims the Pope “serves the Radical Left.” Trump also posted a photo of himself as an AI-generated Jesus.

• Senator Bernie Sanders warned that “the worst is yet to come” unless workers overcome the “ruling class” of billionairesNew York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said artificial intelligence is “coming for humanitarian work.”

• One person was killed and six others were injured in a mass shooting at Chick-fil-A in New Jersey on Saturday night. According to authorities, no arrests have been made yet.

• The ceasefire signed between Russia and Ukraine for Orthodox Easter officially ended on MondayBoth sides accused each other of violations.

Status of the day: US underemployment rates reach 42.5% – highest level since 2020

American college graduates face a brutal entry-level job market, with underemployment (at 42.5%, the highest level since 2020, according to the Oxford dictionary), not having enough paying jobs, or not doing work that fully utilizes one’s skills and abilities. Graduates blame the rise of artificial intelligence, internal hiring and high employer expectations, as many entry-level positions require candidates with three to five years of experience.

Building power: Sentenced to death even though he didn’t pull the trigger. An unlikely coalition saved his life

Charles “Sonny” Burton, who has been on death row since 1992 for killing Doug Battle during a robbery, was scheduled to be executed with nitrogen gas on March 12. But an unlikely coalition of faith leaders, the victim’s daughter and conservative advocacy groups managed to pressure Alabama’s governor to commute his sentence to life in prison without parole. They argued that it was completely wrong to execute a 75-year-old man who did not pull the trigger (while the man who did did so died in prison with a life sentence).

Don’t miss this: How patients diagnose chronic diseases with help from anonymous TikTok users

While health misinformation abounds on social media, amidst the noise, TikTok users are increasingly reporting that the algorithm is helping them detect medical problems before they even realize it. “Kind of funny but sad at the same time,” one TikTok user said. “The fact that people seek medical advice through social media apps shows how broken the American healthcare system is.”

Climate control: Iran war heightens twin threats of nuclear war and climate crisis

Former Australian defense force chief Chris Barrie argues the Iran war shows how deep-rooted the world’s dependence on oil and gas is, but also reveals the threat of nuclear war. “The diplomatic architecture needed to address climate change is being eroded by a war waged unilaterally and without authority,” he wrote.

Last Thing: Money to burn? The humble matchbox gets a $315 refresh

How much would you pay for a box of matches? I estimate it to be much less than the £235 ($315) price tag for the Cartier set, which consists of three tubes decorated with panthers and containing 80 matches each.

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