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Wednesday, March 25, 2026

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2 hours ago
Economy
War

Iran War Will Cause Global Recession If Oil Hits $150 a Barrel: BlackRock CEO.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink is warning that a prolonged conflict between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran could drive the price of oil to $150-a-barrel and trigger a “stark and steep recession.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Shell plc CEO Wael Sawan, and U.S. and Iranian leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 25, 2026; Global impact with focus on Europe and the Middle East.

💬KEY QUOTE: Fink warns that Iran could force “years of above $100, closer to $150 oil, which has profound implications in the economy.”

🎯IMPACT: A prolonged conflict could result in fuel shortages in Europe, increased energy prices, and economic instability.

IN FULL

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink is warning that a prolonged conflict between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran could drive the price of oil to $150 a barrel and plunge the world into a “stark and steep recession.” The remarks come as U.S. military operations against the Islamist regime enter their twenty-fifth day, and amid weeks of energy and financial market volatility.

“Rising energy prices is a very regressive tax. It affects the poor more than the wealthy,” Fink notes, while further cautioning that Iran could force “years above $100, closer to $150 oil, which has profound implications in the economy.” The $150-a-barrel benchmark, according to the BlackRock CEO, is an important line to avoid crossing, as doing so would result in “a probably stark and steep recession.”

Still, Fink hedged on the situation in the Middle East, contending that should the war end soon and Iran be brought back into the international fold, the price of oil could drop to $70 a barrel or lower.

Meanwhile, Shell plc (the British parent company of Shell USA) CEO Wael Sawan claims Europe could face fuel shortages as early as next month if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The critical chokepoint in the Persian Gulf controls the flow of an estimated 20 percent of global oil and gas supply. “South Asia was first to get that brunt. That’s moved to south-east Asia, north-east Asia, and then more so into Europe as we get into April,” Sawan said.

Since the start of the conflict in late February, Brent Crude has surged to $120 a barrel on several occasions, though on average, the price has sat between $90 and $100 a barrel. However, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian missile and drone strikes has also resulted in severe price spikes among other goods as well, including fertilizer and helium.

Image by Hossein Zohrevand/Tasnim News Agency.

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35 minutes ago
War

Counter-Terror Police Arrest Two Over Firebombing of Jewish Community Ambulances.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two men were arrested following an anti-Semitic firebomb attack on ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in north London.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Counter-terror police detained two men aged 45 and 47, and are searching for a third suspect.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred early Monday morning in Golders Green, north London, with arrests made on Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but we’re also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved.” — Helen Flanagan, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing London

🎯IMPACT: The attack has raised concerns of rising anti-Semitism in England and potential links to Iran-backed groups.

IN FULL

Police have arrested two men in north London in connection with a March 23 firebomb attack targeting Jewish Community Ambulance Service ambulances outside a synagogue in Golders Green. The attack, which briefly forced the evacuation of nearby homes after oxygen canisters inside the ambulances exploded, is being investigated by London’s Metropolitan Police as an “anti-Semitic hate crime.”

The two suspects, aged 45 and 47, were detained on Wednesday and charged with arson with intent to endanger life. Notably, this charge could carry a life sentence. Both men are said by police to have British citizenship. Helen Flanagan, leading the counter-terrorism effort, emphasized the urgency of the investigation, stating, “This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but we’re also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved.”

“We fully recognize the local community will still be concerned and our investigation very much remains active,” Flanagan added.

Shortly after the firebombing, a terrorist group identifying itself as Harakat al-Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) claimed responsibility for the attack. However, there appears to be scant evidence that HIYA actually exists, and British security officials speaking with the media have indicated they believe “it is a front and a brand invented by Iranian intelligence or the Quds Force.”

Iran’s Quds Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that carries out clandestine extraterritorial military operations, warned it would begin carrying out attacks against the United States and its allies after President Donald J. Trump authorized Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

“The enemy should know that their happy days are over and they will no longer be safe anywhere in the world, not even in their own homes,” the Quds Force said in a statement read on state television just days after the joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes began.

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3 hours ago
War

U.S. Army Raises Enlistment Age to 42 and Relaxes Rules on Recruiting Drug Convicts.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Army increased its maximum enlistment age to 42 and changed its policy on recruiting people with marijuana convictions amid the Iran war.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Army, including the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced March 2026, effective April 2026, across the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The policy change is meant to better align the service with Defense Department standards.” – Army spokesman

🎯IMPACT: Aligns Army enlistment policies with other military branches and expands eligibility for potential recruits.

IN FULL

The U.S. Army has introduced a major update to its recruiting policies amid the Iran war, increasing the maximum enlistment age to 42. The change is scheduled to take effect on April 20, 2026. Alongside the age adjustment, the Army will now permit applicants who have a single conviction for marijuana possession to join without having to obtain a waiver.

Until now, the upper age limit for new recruits had stood at 35. The revised rules are spelled out in Army Regulation 601-210, which sets out the detailed policies and procedures governing enlistment into the Regular Army, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve. Officials say the broader policy revisions are designed to create more uniform enlistment standards throughout the Department of War.

This marks the second occasion in the past 20 years that the Army has raised its maximum enlistment age to 42; the service first did so in 2006 amid the demands of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, before lowering it again to 35 in 2016.

The new regulation takes into account research by analysts who found that older recruits can sometimes perform more successfully than younger ones overall. In particular, people between the ages of 25 and 35 have been shown to be less likely to drop out of initial training and more inclined to reenlist once their first term is complete.

Notably, countries like Ukraine have already moved towards recruiting older men, with the average soldier in the Eastern European country approaching his mid-forties.

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15 hours ago
Health
News

WATCH: Squirrels Seen ‘Vaping’ After Mistaking E-Cigarettes for Food.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Viral videos have surfaced showing squirrels “vaping” after confusing vape devices with food, sparking concerns about the impact of discarded e-cigarettes on wildlife.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Wildlife experts, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), and TikTok users and others capturing the incidents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Videos were recorded in Brixton, South London, and Philadelphia, with additional reports from Wales and New Zealand.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They don’t encounter nicotine in the wild, so like many chemicals, it’s something you don’t want them exposed to.” – Craig Shuttleworth, Bangor University.

🎯IMPACT: Concerns raised over the harmful effects of vaping devices on wildlife, pets, and humans, with calls for better disposal practices.

IN FULL

Squirrels have been recorded “vaping” with discarded e-cigarettes in a number of viral videos shared on social media. Experts believe the animals are attracted to the fruity aroma emitted by the devices, mistaking them for food, in locations from Brixton in south London, England, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Craig Shuttleworth, a red squirrel expert at Bangor University in Wales, commented on the phenomenon, stating, “In the old days, you’d see lots of discarded cigarette butts, but I don’t remember squirrels running around with them. It would be reasonable to assume that a vape would be more attractive than a normal tobacco product that’s not fruity.”

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Britain has highlighted the risks that discarded vaping devices pose to wildlife. The RSPCA referenced a 2023 case in New Zealand in which a bird died after swallowing a vape and noted that many such incidents likely go unreported.

Domestic pets have also been affected by vaping products. The Veterinary Poisons Information Service has received 680 calls regarding vape-related incidents involving pets since 2017, the vast majority involving dogs. According to RSPCA Scientific Officer Evie Button, some pets have died after consuming vape liquids.

The broader health implications of vaping for humans are a significant concern. The American Heart Association has described the rise in youth vaping as “a serious public health threat,” with police in North Carolina and elsewhere finding that vape stores are selling vapes to children.

Notably, vape stores represent a threat to the built environment as well as wildlife, with one unregistered store in Glasgow, Scotland, recently causing a fire that destroyed a 175-year-old building and closed down the country’s largest railway station, located nearby, for days.

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16 hours ago
Lawfare

Bondi, DOJ Surrender to Federal Courts on US Attorney Appointments.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has conceded to a federal court’s authority to appoint federal attorneys, ending an eight-month standoff over the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s office.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi, and newly appointed U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The standoff ended on Monday, March 24, 2026, with the appointment of Robert Frazer in New Jersey.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Generations of assistant U.S. attorneys had built the goodwill of that office for your generation to destroy it within a year.” – Judge Zahid Quraishi

🎯IMPACT: The Justice Department’s surrender allows the judiciary to appoint U.S. Attorneys, without the blessing of the Trump administration.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) under Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald J. Trump has ended its lengthy standoff with the federal courts over who holds the power to appoint U.S. Attorneys. On Monday, the DOJ accepted the New Jersey District Court’s selection of Robert Frazer to serve as the state’s U.S. Attorney, without the administration’s blessing.

The decision marks a clear reversal of the administration’s earlier claim that only the President could make such appointments. The dispute began when the DOJ declined to replace Alina Habba, the administration’s preferred candidate, leaving New Jersey without a lawfully appointed U.S. Attorney for eight months. During that time, the administration’s attempts to keep administration picks in key prosecutorial posts met with uniform opposition from the judiciary.

A courtroom rebuke from U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi—a Joe Biden appointee—appears to have been decisive. Quraishi criticized the DOJ’s conduct, stating, “Generations of assistant U.S. attorneys had built the goodwill of that office for your generation to destroy it within a year.”

After the Biden judge’s remarks, the DOJ entered negotiations and ultimately agreed to the court’s authority to install Frazer, who was sworn in on Monday.

The appointment brings an end to the administration’s drive to install President Trump’s preferred prosecutors, in a loss for its wider push to assert executive control over federal appointments.

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16 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

CBP Just Seized 120 Pounds of Meth at the U.S.-Mexico Border.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized over 120 pounds of methamphetamine during two enforcement actions at the Nogales Port of Entry.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: CBP officers, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, and two drivers who were arrested.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The seizures occurred on March 10 and March 11 at the Mariposa and DeConcini Crossings in Nogales, Arizona.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Our streets are safer thanks to the dedication of our CBP officers.” – Jose Acuna, Acting Port Director at Nogales Port of Entry.

🎯IMPACT: The seizures prevented a significant quantity of methamphetamine from reaching U.S. streets.

IN FULL

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers earlier this month seized over 120 pounds of methamphetamine at the Nogales Port of Entry along America’s southern border. The illicit drugs were uncovered during two separate enforcement actions on March 10 and 11.

“Our frontline officers’ ability to apply training, inspection experience, and technology allowed them to zero in and take down a couple of significant drug loads,” Acting Port Director Jose Acuna said of the methamphetamine seizure. He added, “Our streets are safer thanks to the dedication of our CBP officers.”

According to the CBP, on March 10, officers at the Mariposa Crossing seized nearly 44 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a 2007 Acura RL. Using a non-intrusive inspection system, officers conducted a closer physical examination and discovered 32 packages of methamphetamine hidden in the back seat of the vehicle. The drugs and the vehicle were seized, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested the driver, launching a criminal investigation.

The following day, on March 11, CBP officers at the DeConcini Crossing seized over 76 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a 2019 Volkswagen Polo. An inspection scan and physical examination led to the discovery of 70 packages of methamphetamine concealed in a false floor compartment of the vehicle. The narcotics and the vehicle were seized, and the driver was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation.

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By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
TECH

Nvidia CEO Boasts New AI Feat – ‘I Think We’ve Achieved AGI.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang claimed during a podcast interview that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has already been achieved.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, and podcaster Lex Fridman.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The remarks were made during a two-hour podcast hosted by Lex Fridman.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I think it’s now. I think we’ve achieved AGI.” – Jensen Huang

🎯IMPACT: Huang’s comments have reignited debates over AGI timelines and its implications for the future of AI and computing.

IN FULL

Jensen Huang, the CEO of U.S. technology giant Nvidia, has made the startling claim that the artificial intelligence (AI) industry has likely already achieved the landmark development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Broadly, AGI is defined as an AI system that can understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a wide range of tasks at a human or superhuman level, unlike current so-called “narrow” AI systems that excel only in specific, predefined tasks.

Speaking with podcast host Lex Fridman, Huang was asked about his thoughts on where AI labs are on the “AGI timeline” and whether the technological achievement was still five, ten, or 20 years away—especially given recent developments in AI “agent” tools like OpenClaw. “I think it’s now. I think we’ve achieved AGI,” Huang stated.


Importantly, Huang’s definition of AGI differs slightly from consensus views. In 2023, the Nvidia CEO stated that he defines AGI simply as AI technology capable of exceeding normal human intelligence at a competitive level. Huang explained that, under his narrower interpretation, AGI does not need to create lasting systems or manage complex businesses. Instead, it only needs to generate a significant economic impact, such as developing a viral web service or app used by billions of people at minimal cost per user.

He compared the current capabilities of AI to those of the early dot-com era, suggesting that some websites from that time were no more advanced than what AI agents can create today. Based on this perspective, he reiterated, “I think we’ve achieved AGI.”

Huang’s more grounded view of AGI may indicate that the current state of the technology is still well short of the superhuman, adaptive intelligence envisioned by other technologists.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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17 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

The State of Minnesota is Suing the Trump Admin. Here’s Why…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The state of Minnesota filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging federal authorities obstructed access to evidence in three shootings involving federal agents.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Defendants include the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Attorney General Pam Bondi, and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incidents occurred in January in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Tuesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “At stake is not only Plaintiffs’ access to evidence central to these shootings but also a fundamental principle of our constitutional system: that the States retain the sovereign authority—and responsibility—to investigate crimes committed within their borders,” the complaint stated.

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit seeks to compel federal authorities to provide evidence, claiming their obstruction violates the Tenth Amendment and undermines state sovereignty.

IN FULL

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz‘s (D) government has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing federal authorities of withholding evidence in three shootings involving federal agents and Minneapolis residents. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Tuesday, names the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Attorney General Pam Bondi, and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants.

In the filing, attorneys for the state of Minnesota contend that the federal government has engaged in “unprecedented noncooperation,” and “has deprived state investigators of timely access to evidence in federal custody that is directly relevant to their investigations of potential violations of Minnesota criminal law.” The Walz administration is asking the federal court to “secure access to the evidence necessary to investigate these shooting incidents and to ensure that the State of Minnesota can fulfill its sovereign duty to determine whether federal officers committed crimes within its borders.”

The incidents include the fatal shootings of anti-ICE activists Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24. Additionally, a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, was shot in the leg by an ICE agent on January 14 but survived. Minnesota investigators claim federal authorities blocked access to evidence in all three cases.

The filing alleges that federal agents physically blocked Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators from accessing the scene, even after a judicial warrant was obtained. The complaint concludes, “At stake is not only Plaintiffs’ access to evidence central to these shootings but also a fundamental principle of our constitutional system: that the States retain the sovereign authority—and responsibility—to investigate crimes committed within their borders.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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17 hours ago
News

Trump Admin Hands $1BN to French Firm to Cancel Wind Farm Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is paying $928 million to TotalEnergies to cancel its offshore wind farm leases off the coasts of New York and North Carolina.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: TotalEnergies, the Trump administration, the Interior Department, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The deal was announced on Monday and involves federal waters off New York and North Carolina.

💬KEY QUOTE: TotalEnergies CEO, Patrick Pouyanné, stated that offshore wind was deemed “not the most affordable way to produce electricity” and that pursuing it in the U.S. was too expensive.

🎯IMPACT: Funds intended for renewable energy are being redirected to fossil fuel projects, sparking criticism from environmentalists.

IN FULL

The Trump administration announced a $928 million deal with French energy company TotalEnergies to cancel offshore wind farm leases in federal waters off New York and North Carolina. The agreement was revealed by the Interior Department and involves a refund of the lease payments made under the former Biden government.

In return, TotalEnergies has committed to redirecting the refunded monies into oil and gas projects, including ramping up oil production in the Gulf of America and building additional gas-fired power plants to meet data center electricity demand. The company’s CEO, Patrick Pouyanné, stated that offshore wind was deemed “not the most affordable way to produce electricity” and that pursuing it in the U.S. was too “expensive.”

Environmentalists have criticized the deal, arguing that funds meant for renewable energy are now being funneled into fossil fuel projects. New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) condemned the agreement, calling it “an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars.”

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is expected to use its Judgment Fund to cover the costs of the agreement.

Image by Olivier Dugornay.

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18 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

A Deportee Just Filed a $1.3 Million Lawsuit Against the United States.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Venezuelan man deported to El Salvador and detained in the country’s CECOT mega-prison has filed a lawsuit in the U.S., seeking $1.3 million in damages for alleged false imprisonment and emotional distress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and advocacy groups including LULAC and the Democracy Defenders Fund.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Leon Rengel was detained in 2025 in El Salvador’s CECOT prison; lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Tuesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There came a point when I thought about hanging myself with the sheet they gave us.” – Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit seeks to challenge the use of wartime powers for deportation and the treatment of detainees in foreign facilities.

IN FULL

Venezuelan national Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel, 28, has filed a lawsuit in the United States seeking $1.3 million in damages for the mistreatment he claims he suffered during four months of detention in El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison. Deported by U.S. authorities in 2025, he claims he endured beatings, inhumane conditions, and severe psychological trauma, and that the detention amounted to “torture” under international law.

Leon Rengel described his time in CECOT as “total hell,” claiming he was forced to drink the same water used for bathing and that guards warned him he would be imprisoned for 90 years. “There came a point when I thought about hanging myself with the sheet they gave us,” he said.

The lawsuit, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, contends that he was falsely imprisoned and deliberately subjected to emotional distress. Advocacy organizations, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Democracy Defenders Fund, are backing his legal action. “What happened to Adrián Rengel is government-sanctioned torture,” alleged Juan Proaño, LULAC’s CEO.

Leon Rengel was deported under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime measure the Trump administration invoked to address the “invasion” of the U.S. by migrant gangs. Leon Rengel insists he has no gang ties and says he was wrongly identified because of a tattoo. “I’ve never been a gang member, nor a member of a criminal group,” he claimed.

Now back in Venezuela, Leon Rengel says he has no plans to return to the U.S.

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18 hours ago
Corruption
World

Italy’s Justice Minister Just Resigned Over Mafia Connections.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Andrea Delmastro, Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Justice, resigned following reports of his alleged stake in a restaurant chain linked to the mafia.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Andrea Delmastro, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, and mafia-linked ex-convict Andrea Caroccia.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Italy; Delmastro’s resignation was announced on Tuesday, shortly after Meloni’s government was defeated in a judicial reform referendum earlier in the week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Although I did nothing wrong, I made an error of judgment, which I corrected as soon as I became aware of it. I take responsibility for that.” – Andrea Delmastro

🎯IMPACT: The resignation is another blow to Giorgia Meloni’s governing coalition, so soon after its defeat in the judicial reform referendum.

IN FULL

Andrea Delmastro, Undersecretary of State at Italy’s Ministry of Justice, has resigned amid claims that he held a stake in a restaurant business connected to the mafia. Delmastro co-owned a Rome eatery with the daughter of Andrea Caroccia, who was previously convicted for links to the Camorra, the mafia group based in Naples.

Delmastro insisted he had done nothing illegal and said he had sold his interest as soon as he learned of Caroccia’s criminal background. Questions grew, however, after a 2023 photograph emerged of Delmastro standing alongside Caroccia, indicating the two may have known each other earlier. It was also reported that he had not disclosed his business stake to parliament, as required by law.

The controversy follows shortly after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government suffered a loss in a national referendum. Voters turned down a judicial overhaul promoted by Meloni’s governing coalition, with 54 percent casting ballots against the measure. Meloni responded to the outcome by saying, “Italian citizens have decided and we respect their decision as always. We will move forward as we always have: with responsibility, determination, and above all, with respect for Italy and its people.”

Leftist political and media figures were initially fearful that Meloni, who campaigned on a strong anti-mass migration, populist platform, could be the most right-wing leader in Italy since Benito Mussolini. However, when she entered office in late 2022, there was an initial surge in illegal immigration, and she has also increased legal immigration, arguing that Italy and Europe “need” migrants. Instead of immigration, she has often seemed more focused on supporting Ukraine and befriending European Union (EU) officials.

Image © European Union, 1998 – 2026.

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