#1Government Shutdown Continues as GOP Crafts Partial DHS Deal
Senate Republicans are negotiating a funding measure that would keep most of the Department of Homeland Security running while leaving ICE removal operations unfunded — a compromise bid to end the ongoing partial government shutdown. The standoff reflects deep divisions over immigration enforcement funding heading into spring. — [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/reporters-notebook-gop-eyes-dhs-deal-funding-ice-probes-not-removals-shutdown-drags)
#2Democrat Flips Florida Seat in Trump's Backyard
Emily Gregory won a special House election in the district surrounding Mar-a-Lago, delivering Democrats a symbolic and tangible victory in deep-red South Florida. The result is being read as an early bellwether of anti-administration sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterms. — [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/us/politics/florida-special-election-emily-gregory.html)
#3Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Social Media Addiction Trial
A jury ruled that Meta and YouTube were negligent in designing addictive features that harmed a young user, marking a landmark verdict in the long-running wave of social media liability litigation. The decision could open the door to significant damages and reshape how platforms approach algorithmic engagement tools. — [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html)
#4Oil Traders Bet Millions Minutes Before Trump's Iran Post
Suspicious trading activity in oil futures spiked in the minutes before President Trump publicly posted about ongoing Iran nuclear deal talks, raising questions about possible advance knowledge. The BBC investigation found the trades were well-timed to profit from the resulting price swing. — [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg547ljepvzo)
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## 🌐 Top World Stories
#1Trump Pauses Iran Energy Strikes, Says Nuclear Talks "Going Very Well"
President Trump announced a 10-day pause — through April 6 — on strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure, saying diplomacy is actively underway. Meanwhile, global energy markets remain rattled by Iran's ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has hit Southeast Asian nations especially hard. — [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/26/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump)
#2Russia Fires Nearly 400 Drones at Ukraine, Signaling Spring Offensive
Russia launched one of its largest single-night drone barrages of the war overnight, prompting NATO members Poland and Romania to scramble fighter jets. Military analysts say the scale and targeting patterns suggest Moscow is positioning for a renewed ground offensive as weather improves. — [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/world/nato-scrambles-jets-russia-fires-nearly-400-drones-toward-ukraine-signaling-new-spring-offensive)
#3Sarah Mullally Becomes First Female Archbishop of Canterbury
The Church of England installed Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman to hold the position in its 1,400-year history. The appointment is a historic milestone for both the Church and the broader Anglican Communion worldwide. — [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/mar/25/denmark-election-results-mette-frederiksen-europe-latest-news-updates)
#4IOC Mandates Genetic Testing for Women's Olympic Events Starting 2028
The International Olympic Committee announced that all athletes competing in women's events at the 2028 Los Angeles Games must undergo genetic testing as part of eligibility verification. The policy is expected to generate significant controversy around privacy, inclusion, and the definition of sex in sport. — [NPR](https://www.npr.org/sections/world/)
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## 🔬 Science & Technology
#1Deepfake X-Rays Now Fooling Doctors and AI Alike
Researchers have demonstrated that AI-generated fake medical images — including X-rays and scans — are now convincing enough to deceive both trained radiologists and diagnostic AI systems. The finding raises urgent concerns about the integrity of medical imaging in clinical and legal contexts. — [ScienceDaily](https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/top/technology/)
#2Cow Caught Using Tools in "Flexible and Purposeful" Way
A cow named Veronika has astonished ethologists by independently selecting different ends of a brush to groom different parts of her body — a behavior previously associated only with primates and a handful of other species. The study challenges assumptions about the cognitive complexity of livestock. — [ScienceDaily](https://www.sciencedaily.com/)
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## 🃏 Wildcard
**A Foodie Ate at 28 Michelin-Star Restaurants in New York — in 24 Hours**
One very determined (and well-funded) food lover smashed a Guinness World Record by hitting 28 Michelin-starred restaurants across New York City in a single day. The feat required military-level logistics, taxi sprints across boroughs, and a stomach of apparently heroic capacity. — [Shepherd Express / News of the Weird](https://shepherdexpress.com/puzzles/news-of-the-weird/news-of-the-weird-week-of-march-26-2026/)
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Sources:
- [Fox News — Government Shutdown / DHS Deal](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/reporters-notebook-gop-eyes-dhs-deal-funding-ice-probes-not-removals-shutdown-drags)
- [The New York Times — Florida Special Election](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/us/politics/florida-special-election-emily-gregory.html)
- [The New York Times — Social Media Addiction Trial](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html)
- [BBC News — Oil Trading / Iran](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg547ljepvzo)
- [CNN — Iran Strikes Pause](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/26/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump)
- [Fox News — Russia Drone Barrage](https://www.foxnews.com/world/nato-scrambles-jets-russia-fires-nearly-400-drones-toward-ukraine-signaling-new-spring-offensive)
- [ScienceDaily](https://www.sciencedaily.com/)
- [Shepherd Express — News of the Weird](https://shepherdexpress.com/puzzles/news-of-the-weird/news-of-the-weird-week-of-march-26-2026/)
