In a landmark decision, a Los Angeles jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive features which harmed a young user. The plaintiff, identified as KGM, testified that prolonged use from early childhood contributed to depression, self-harm, and diagnosed mental health conditions. Jurors concluded the companies were negligent and failed to provide adequate warnings, awarding $6m in damages. The case drew comparisons to past litigation against tobacco firms, focusing on product design and knowledge of harm. Both companies deny wrongdoing and plan to appeal, arguing that mental health issues are complex. This trial is the first in a consolidated group of cases brought in California against Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Snap on behalf of more than 1,600 plaintiffs, including more than 350 families and 250 school districts. TikTok and Snap settled the KGM lawsuit just before the trial began. See also

Iran has rejected claims by Donald Trump that negotiations are under way to end the conflict, with military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari accusing Washington of ‘negotiating with itself’ to mask failure. While US officials suggest progress and reports indicate a proposed plan involving limits on Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, Iranian leaders insist no direct or indirect talks have taken place. Confusion persists as regional actors, including Pakistan and Turkey, reportedly act as intermediaries, passing messages in hopes of de-escalation. Meanwhile, hostilities continue, with Israel and Iran exchanging strikes and civilian casualties reported. The US is also increasing its military presence in the region, highlighting the tension between diplomatic signals and ongoing conflict, and underscoring the fragility of any potential path toward peace.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has disrupted global energy supplies, sending oil prices higher and straining economies, especially across Asia. With nearly 90% of shipments through the strait destined for the region, countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India are facing fuel shortages and rising costs. Governments have introduced emergency measures, including reduced working hours, remote work policies, and fuel rationing. The crisis has deeply affected everyday livelihoods, with drivers, farmers, factory workers, and small businesses struggling to cope. Industries have slowed or shut down, while long queues for fuel and rising living costs have increased uncertainty. Though the conflict is geographically distant, its economic impact is immediate, exposing the vulnerability of global energy systems and the fragile balance many communities depend on.

In 1977, Argentine teacher Taty Almeida began searching for her missing son Alejandro, one of thousands who disappeared during the military dictatorship. With nowhere else to turn, she joined other mothers in Buenos Aires’ Plaza de Mayo, publicly demanding answers about their children. Over five decades, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo have become a powerful symbol of resistance, seeking truth and justice for up to 30,000 victims. Today, their mission continues despite political challenges, reduced government support, and concerns about weakening accountability under president Javier Milei. Meanwhile, other organisations have helped children taken from detained parents to discover their own identity, and younger generations are determined to continue the work. Though many original members are elderly, their persistence reflects enduring hope that truth will prevail and the missing will be found.

A landmark legal challenge to Quebec’s secularism law, Bill 21, is set to be heard by Canada’s supreme court, raising major questions about religious freedom, constitutional rights, and national unity. The 2019 law bars certain public-sector workers from wearing religious symbols and is protected by the ‘notwithstanding clause’, which allows governments to override specific Charter rights. Critics argue the law disproportionately affects religious minorities and risks setting a precedent for limiting fundamental freedoms, while supporters say it upholds state neutrality and democratic authority. The case has drawn widespread attention; many, including the federal government, have called for imposing limits on how the clause can be used. The court’s decision could redefine the balance between judicial oversight and parliamentary power, with implications extending far beyond Quebec.

Ghana’s UN representative, Samuel Yao Kumah, has called on member states to support a draft resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as ‘the gravest crime against humanity’. The proposal, presented to a General Assembly session on 25 March, aims to strengthen ongoing reparations efforts, particularly those led by Caribbean nations. Kumah emphasised that the resolution does not diminish other historical tragedies but highlights the profound global impact of centuries of African enslavement, which helped shape enduring systems of inequality. He stressed that such resolutions are declaratory political instruments, not judicial rulings, and cannot create legally binding hierarchies of crime. By acknowledging this past, Ghana and its partners hope to lay a foundation for future reparative initiatives while challenging attempts to obscure or minimise the legacy of slavery and its continuing consequences.

On 22 March, World Water Day, thousands of people marched in Santiago and many other cities across Chile, protesting the rollback of environmental protections by newly-elected president José Antonio Kast. His administration quickly halted 43 regulations introduced under former president Gabriel Boric, including measures safeguarding endangered species, creating national parks, regulating emissions, and addressing pollution. Protesters, organised by environmental groups, warned that these changes could deepen inequality, noting that around 1.4 million Chileans still lack access to safe drinking water. Critics argue the policy shift prioritises economic deregulation over environmental care, raising concerns about long-term ecological damage and public health. The demonstrations reflect growing unease about the country’s direction and the balance between development and stewardship of natural resources. The new president has also taken speedy action to start building a barrier between Chile and its northern neighbour Peru: see

Scotland’s Parliament has rejected proposals to legalise assisted suicide in a significant and closely watched vote, with MSPs voting 69 to 57 against the bill after extensive debate. The bill had sought to permit medically assisted death for certain patients, but concerns over safeguards, coercion, and risks to vulnerable people proved decisive. Many Christian leaders and organisations welcomed the outcome, giving thanks that the intrinsic value of every human life has been upheld. Medical bodies, disability advocates, and faith groups had raised serious objections, warning of unintended consequences seen in other nations where such laws have expanded over time. The debate was deeply personal, with many MSPs reflecting on experiences of illness and loss, yet ultimately choosing to prioritise protection, dignity, and care. Attention is now turning toward improving palliative care and support for those facing serious illness, ensuring compassionate alternatives that honour life until its natural end.

Around a thousand students gathered for a three-night, student-led tent revival at a university in Texas, continuing a long-standing tradition of campus spiritual renewal. Organised through months of prayerful planning by student leaders and the university’s Student Life team, the event created space for worship, preaching, and deeper engagement with God. The revival reflects a historic pattern at the university, recalling earlier outpourings such as a significant move of God in 1909 when many students responded to Christ. This year, about eighty students made decisions to follow Jesus, recommitted their lives, or sensed a call to ministry and missions. Guest speaker Shane Pruitt focused on the biblical image of the potter and clay, encouraging students to surrender to God’s shaping hand and walk in His purposes. As attendance grew each evening, with overflow crowds by the final night, many experienced repentance, freedom, and renewed passion for Christ.

Worship leader Brooke Ligertwood has shared a remarkable testimony of God’s faithfulness, describing a providential meeting with a Ukrainian woman whose prayers helped shape her journey. While visiting a theological campus in Texas to audit a doctoral course, Ligertwood encountered Ksusha, a Ukrainian theology student studying remotely while living amid the challenges of war. Years earlier, Ksusha had seen a video in which Ligertwood expressed a desire to study theology. Moved by this, she began praying earnestly for God to open that door. In a striking moment of divine orchestration, the two women met in person at the very class Ligertwood had been invited to attend. Ksusha shared how she had faithfully prayed, and together they witnessed the beginning of that prayer being answered. Ligertwood reflected on the experience with awe, recognising God’s personal care and timing.