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NFL’s push for growth is inexorable at expense of fans and amid an ‘existential threat’

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NFL’s push for growth is inexorable at expense of fans and amid an ‘existential threat’


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The picture the NFL wants you to have of America’s most popular sport is that this is a steamroller crushing it at every turn, with revenues, ratings, salaries, and, of course, entertainment and drama breaking through one ceiling after another in a seemingly endless streak of success.

And much of that is indeed an accurate portrait.

But there’s another snapshot the average fan is increasingly seeing and that’s of an NFL that is taking more out of your wallet than ever, whether you’re headed to games or watching at home.

It’s the NFL that was born in America but is looking to export games to feed fans abroad – obviously at the expense of packed stadiums at home.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field on Jan. 17, 2026. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)

And, it is the NFL that has partnered with gambling conglomerates as a way of increasing revenue and interest, perhaps at the expense of feeding addiction.

So, yes, the NFL is America’s reality show. It’s fun and captivating, but it’s also unquestionably troubling at times. 

So how did the NFL behemoth get here?

“When I started in the NFL, it was the most popular sport,” said former San Diego Chargers team doctor David Chao, who worked 17 seasons for the team. “By the time I was done, it was more popular than all the other sports combined.

“And what’s the fundamental difference? You go to a sports bar during baseball season. It’s all men watching games. You go to a sports bar on Sunday during football season, it’s half women watching games. They’ve doubled their audience. And they added fantasy. But what is fantasy? It’s personal ownership and stake. It’s personal stake in the games.”

Chao points out that fans years ago asked him whether a player was available for a game because they wanted the Chargers to win. Fans still care about their teams, but the league has added new fans that want to know that information because they want to set their fantasy team to win.

Or they want to have their gambling bets win.

The NFL’s ‘Existential Threat’ 

Gambling has become a revenue source for the NFL that simply didn’t exist a decade or so ago. 

The NFL has shifted from outright opposition to active commercial partnership with the sports betting industry. Caesars Entertainment now serves as the league’s official casino sponsor while DraftKings and FanDuel are official sports betting partners.

These agreements allow the partners to use NFL trademarks, promote betting activities in league media, and engage fans with NFL-branded betting experiences. And while the NFL maintains boundaries designed to protect the integrity of the game, that is a too-thin line to anyone who understands how potential betting information works.

“It’s a disaster, it’s the existential threat to football,” said famed NFL agent Leigh Steinberg, whose career was Hollywood’s template for Tom Cruise’s character in the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire. “All it takes is one inside piece of information being leaked to a gambler that’s trying to do a prop bet or an athlete that actually shaves performance, and it’s a slippery slope to having a true contest, and it starts to resemble wrestling.

“Gambling is maybe good news for revenue, but it’s bad news for the integrity of the game and continued fan interest.”

SEN ERIC SCHMITT PUSHES FOR LEGISLATION TO TACKLE RISING SPORTS TICKET COSTS

NFL Feeding Gambling Addictions

Sportsbook in Las Vegas

The sportsbook in the Circa Resort & Hotel ahead of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 10, 2024. (Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Steinberg is the author of four books, including his latest due out March 24 titled “The Comeback: A Playbook for Turning Life’s Setbacks Into Victories.” Part of that book details Steinberg’s battle with alcohol addiction, and he’s concerned that the NFL’s ties to gambling could have a terrible effect on some of its fans.

Beyond likely losing a lot of money, that is.

“They’re going to create a whole new generation of gambling addicts,” he said. “Because certain people can’t handle this. Second of all, if you don’t feel the games are played on a level playing field with equal officiating, rules, every player trying his hardest … If you introduce into the fan’s brain that there’s a possibility that something else is going on other than what they see on the field, it’s a disaster.”

There is already a faction of NFL fans on social media who refer to the NFL as scripted. Some NFL staff even publicly joke about this narrative. But all it takes is one player, innocently or not, sharing injury information that gets leaked into gambling circles as to affect betting lines, and the NFL would have a scandal on its hands.

NFL Exporting Games Around Globe

Daniel Jones in action

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) carries the ball against the New York Giants in the second half during the 2024 NFL Munich Game at Allianz Arena.  (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

But none of this is so far slowing the NFL from its steady, seemingly inexorable expansion into becoming a global game.

“In today’s world, we have to be global,” Commissioner Roger Goodell told fans in Ireland last season before the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings played in Dublin. “Every time we play an international game, fans say they want more. I really, truly believe our game can and will be global. Our job is to share our game with the rest of the world.”

The NFL will play a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums: 

  • London, U.K. (Two games in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, One in Wembley Stadium)
  • Madrid, Spain (Bernabéu Stadium)
  • Melbourne, Australia (Melbourne Cricket Ground)
  • Mexico City, Mexico (Estadio Banorte)
  • Munich, Germany (FC Bayern Munich Stadium)
  • Paris, France (Stade de France Stadium)
  • Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (Maracanã Stadium)

Paris, Melbourne and Rio are new additions to the International slate. And they won’t be the last, if things go according to plan.

“We would like to get to 16 games, so everyone is playing one game a year internationally,” Goodell said.

Players Do Not Want 18th Game

But every game that is exported is a game that leaves the United States. 

Well, the NFL has a long-range plan for that which may appease some fans but will surely displease players and that is adding another game. Even though Goodell cautioned during Super Bowl week that adding an 18th game was “not a given,” he added that NFL owners want to discuss such an expansion with the NFL Players Association. 

That’s because the NFL definitely wants to some day offer an 18-game regular season and two bye weeks that begins on or before Labor Day and ends on the Sunday prior to President’s Day. That plan would include two preseason games to give each team a dry run for a home and away game.

“Our members have no appetite for an 18th regular-season game,” NFL Players Association interim executive director David White said during the union’s annual Super Bowl week news conference in San Francisco.

But the players’ union has balked at additional games in the past. And then it has given in to additional games in collective bargaining in return for more money. So the league believes one more game can again be negotiated.

Cam Skattebo on his back in pain

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) reacts after an injury during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia.  (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

More Games Cost YOU More Money

The motivation for the expansion is obvious: More games add to product inventory, which the NFL can convert to more revenue.

And most of that revenue comes through the league’s television and streaming contracts. 

Consider that in 2024 the NFL and Netflix signed a three-year contract that put live games on the streaming giant for the first time. Netflix is paying an estimated $150 million per year for this right, which amounts to four games.

Imagine what the NFL could do if it added 16 more games to its inventory by adding an 18th week to the season. It can sell more games to its broadcast partners, which now include streaming services Amazon, YouTube, Peacock and Netflix.

Those streaming services, with their disappointing 30- to 45-second delays compared to live action, would be able to bid on the NFL’s new fare and then the winning bidders would likely do what capitalists have done from time immemorial: Pass their cost along to consumers

“Part of the reason football got so popular is that for a couple of hundred dollars anybody could buy a TV and, with rabbit ears, over the air watch multiple football games,” Steinberg said. “If all of a sudden you consign and split the package to mean consumers have to pay hundreds of dollars to multiple networks and streaming services, it may be a windfall in revenue, but it might be short-sighted.

“Because what keeps you going is that everyone in this country can watch football even without a cable. And if you have to pay for Hulu or Netflix or Amazon, does that diminish the audience that is critical for negotiation for the networks?”

The Coming Wednesday NFL Game

Jordan Love noshes on Turkey

Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers takes a bite out of a turkey leg after the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Nov. 27, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

This coming year, the NFL wants to add a Wednesday broadcast prior to its traditional Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday schedule.

“Every offseason we look for new opportunities to best serve our fans in the schedule-making process,” an NFL spokesman told Fox News and OutKick. “As Commissioner Goodell has said, Thanksgiving and NFL football have become synonymous and given the continued growth of fan interest around our games on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, looking for additional opportunities tied to this special holiday is exciting for us to explore.” 

An NFL source added that the addition of the Wednesday game is not the only new broadcast window the league is exploring for 2026, suggesting other days are in play.

And the Wednesday game would likely involve teams coming off a bye week.

“The NFL’s been doing this creep for a while,” Chao said. “They do the Thursday season kickoff game and then more Thursdays during the season. They snuck in a Friday on everybody. They snuck in games on Christmas. Obviously, when the college football season is over, they play on a Saturday.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they went to Friday-Saturday-Sunday after the high school and college football season. And it’s all about revenue.”

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Player Health And Safety An Issue

But what about player health and safety, which the NFL insists is a priority?

“The Wednesday game? They’re going to sell it based on safety,” Chao said. “They’ll say, ‘You don’t like Thursday games? … We’ll slide in Wednesday and you don’t have to play on four days rest. You’ll have (10-11) days before and (11) days after’ – a mini-bye on the front end and a mini-bye on the back end.

“And they’ll sell that as helping players’ health and safety.” 

The thing is fans will buy it. The 2025 Thanksgiving Day NFL games shattered viewership records as the average viewership across all three games — Packers vs. Lions, Chiefs vs. Cowboys and Bengals vs. Ravens — was 44.7 million viewers, the highest Thanksgiving Day average on record.

That 44.7 million mark surpassed the previous high of 34.5 million viewers and represented the fourth consecutive year the NFL has set a Thanksgiving Day viewership record.

So, yes, the NFL steamroller continues to crush it – significant warts and all.

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Indian Embassy in Tehran warns nationals not to attempt land border crossings without embassy coordination | – The Times of India

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Indian Embassy in Tehran warns nationals not to attempt land border crossings without embassy coordination | – The Times of India


The Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued a strict advisory urging Indian nationals in Iran not to attempt crossing any of the country’s land borders without prior and explicit coordination with embassy officials. The warning comes as authorities seek to prevent travellers from facing immigration or logistical complications while leaving the country, as per the newsonair reports.

Embassy of India, Tehran

Embassy of Inida, Tehran

In the advisory, the Embassy of India in Tehran stressed that Indian nationals currently in Iran should not approach or attempt to cross land borders for onward travel without first contacting and coordinating with the mission. According to the embassy, individuals who attempt to leave Iran independently through land routes may encounter serious difficulties during their journey. “All Indian nationals currently in Iran are strictly advised not to approach or attempt to cross any land border of Iran for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy of India,” the advisory said.Read more: UAE travel update: Emirates suspends Dubai flights until further notice; Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi issues advisory The mission cautioned that travellers who move towards border crossings without the embassy’s knowledge and guidance are highly likely to face logistical challenges and immigration-related complications. These could include issues with documentation, entry permissions into neighbouring countries, or unexpected restrictions at border checkpoints. Due to the above risks, the embassy strongly discouraged uncoordinated movement to land borders. They emphasized that moving without coordination could make it difficult to assist citizens in case of problems that may occur while in transit. In its statement, the embassy also made it clear that it would not be in a position to provide assistance once individuals move outside Iranian territory without prior coordination. This means that Indian citizens who leave their country through land routes without informing their embassy will find it difficult to get assistance from Indian authorities in case of any problems after crossing the border. The embassy also noted that it remains in regular contact with members of the Indian community in Iran. According to the statement, coordinated arrangements are being undertaken wherever necessary to assist Indian nationals who may need help with travel or other matters.Read more: Emirates issues update: Reduced flight schedule likely; some cancellations confirmed The Indian authorities have also asked their citizens in Iran to maintain their association with the embassy through official channels of communication and to keep themselves updated with the latest information. This will allow them to get accurate information and guidance regarding the procedures to be followed while travelling, etc. The advisories issued by the embassy are usually done to secure the safety and well-being of the citizens of that country while they are abroad, especially in situations where the conditions of travel are not clear or are complicated. In the case of crossing borders, especially by land, there are usually multiple checkpoints that need to be coordinated with different countries, etc. The advice to Indian nationals to not approach the border crossing points without prior permission from the embassy is probably done to avoid any complicated situations and to ensure that they get the necessary guidance while travelling. The embassy has therefore urged all Indian nationals in Iran to strictly follow official advisories, avoid undertaking independent travel towards land borders, and remain in touch with the mission before making any plans to leave the country. Indian citizens in need or those planning to travel have been advised to contact the embassy in advance in order to ensure proper coordination and address any possible issues prior to their travel.



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Ombudsman service shake-up ‘will help fast and fair response to consumer gripes’

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Ombudsman service shake-up ‘will help fast and fair response to consumer gripes’


The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is set to undergo a shake-up, to help strengthen the redress system so that customers receive fast, fair and consistent compensation in response to complaints about firms.

The FOS and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said proposed changes include a new registration stage to ensure that complaints referred to the ombudsman are ready to be investigated before being allocated to a caseworker.

There will also be new powers to dismiss complaints that are considered best resolved in other ways, are more appropriate for courts or another dispute resolution process, or where there has been no material financial loss, distress or inconvenience, under the proposals.

It is hoped that changes will help the FOS to focus its resources on being a fast and informal alternative to the courts, while ensuring it operates within a clearer and more predictable framework.

James Dipple-Johnstone, interim chief ombudsman at the FOS, said: “The financial sector has changed significantly since the Financial Ombudsman was set up 25 years ago, which is why we are driving forward changes to transform the redress system.

“We are laying the foundations for an agile, responsive and modern service which is fit for the future and has the confidence of consumers and firms alike.”

Sarah Pritchard, deputy chief executive at the FCA, said: “We want a system that delivers fair compensation fast, while providing greater certainty to businesses so they have the confidence to invest, grow and compete.

“We’re acting at pace to change what we can within our current powers, ahead of the Government’s wider reforms.”

The consultation closes on May 11.

Meanwhile, the Government has said it is set to legislate to “restore clarity” to the financial services redress system, saying reforms will return the FOS to its original role as a simple, impartial dispute resolution service.

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The announcement was part of a response to a public consultation held last year that sought views on how to address concerns that, in significant minority of cases, the FOS has acted as a “quasi-regulator”.

Legislation will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows to reform the legislative framework that governs the FOS.

The Government will legislate to introduce a referral mechanism between the FOS and the FCA.

This will require the ombudsman to seek a view from the FCA where the FOS considers there may be ambiguity in what FCA rules require, or where it considers an issue raised may have wider implications across the financial services industry.

It will also make structural changes to the FOS to provide more consistency in decision making by giving the chief ombudsman overall responsibility for FOS determinations.

It will also make it easier for firms and consumers to understand and learn from FOS decisions by introducing a requirement for the FOS and FCA to publish regular thematic reports which provide  information and clarification on how the FOS will consider certain types of complaint.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby said: “These reforms to the Financial Ombudsman Service will make redress clearer, more consistent and easier to navigate.

“By setting clearer boundaries, we are restoring confidence in the system and ensuring it works fairly and predictably for consumers and businesses alike.”



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Mortgage shelf life dips amid market uncertainty

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Mortgage shelf life dips amid market uncertainty


The average lifespan of a mortgage product on the market has plummeted to just two weeks, marking the shortest period seen in over two years, according to new data from financial information website Moneyfacts.

By the beginning of March, lenders were typically withdrawing mortgage deals after only 14 days.

This represents the most rapid turnover since August 2023, when the average ‘shelf life’ stood at 13 days.

This accelerated pace in the market comes as average mortgage rates have recently climbed above the 5 per cent threshold.

On Monday morning, the average two-year fixed-rate homeowner mortgage reached 5.20 per cent, a notable increase from 5.10 per cent recorded last Friday.

Similarly, the average five-year fixed deal rose to 5.25 per cent, up from 5.19 per cent at the end of last week, both figures representing significant highs in the current climate.

The average shelf life of a mortgage has not been this low for more than two years, Moneyfacts said (Anthony Devlin/PA Archive) (PA)

Even in the turbulent aftermath of the 2022 mini-budget under then-Prime Minister Liz Truss, which sent shockwaves through financial markets, the average mortgage shelf life was slightly longer, at 15 days.

However, mortgages have not disappeared in recent weeks as fast as they did in the aftermath of the mini-budget.

On Friday last week, Moneyfacts said at least 530 homeowner mortgage deals have vanished from the market since Monday March 9, representing about 7.5 per cent of deals.

But the biggest single day fall for residential mortgages recorded by Moneyfacts was the withdrawal of 935 products on September 27 2022, equating to a little more than 25 per cent of the deals available at the time.

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In recent days, lenders have been scrambling to increase their mortgage rates and withdraw some products amid changing expectations in the financial markets following the conflict in the Middle East. Swap rates, which are used by lenders to price mortgages, have been increasing.

Rachel Springall, a finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: “Since this data was captured, there has been a notable shift in swap rates, amid the unrest seen in the Middle East.

“It is worth noting that the average shelf life of a mortgage has not been this low for over two years.”

Average mortgage rates have recently flown past the 5 per cent mark, and Moneyfacts said the average, two-year, fixed-rate mortgage on the market on Monday morning was the highest since April 2025, while the average five-year deal was at its highest since February 2025

Average mortgage rates have recently flown past the 5 per cent mark, and Moneyfacts said the average, two-year, fixed-rate mortgage on the market on Monday morning was the highest since April 2025, while the average five-year deal was at its highest since February 2025 (Alamy/PA)

The Bank of England is due to announce its next base rate decision on Thursday, with many economists expecting the rate to remain unchanged at 3.75 per cent, rowing back from previous expectations of a cut.

Ms Springall added: “The general optimism heading into 2026 for the market might have suffered a bit of a setback, as it is looking incredibly unlikely that the Monetary Policy Committee will favour a cut to the Bank of England base rate.

“The reason rests on the uncertainty surrounding tensions in the Middle East.”

But she said that borrowers who are sitting on a standard variable rate (SVR), which may happen when an initial mortgage deal ends, could still potentially make savings by taking out a new deal.”

She said: “The outlook might look a bit bleak for borrowers right now, but as we have experienced before, a short-term spike in market volatility can heal and interest rates are still far lower than they were a couple of years ago.”



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Trump warns NATO of ‘very bad’ future if allies don’t help secure Strait of Hormuz

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Trump warns NATO of ‘very bad’ future if allies don’t help secure Strait of Hormuz


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President Donald Trump sent his clearest warning yet to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Sunday: Stand with the U.S. for defense of the Strait of Hormuz or face a “very bad” future.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump told The Financial Times in an interview Sunday. “If there’s no response, or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”

Trump echoed those remarks in press gaggle aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, returning to Washington, D.C., from a weekend atMar-a-Lago, saying it would “be nice to have other countries police that with us and we’ll help – we’ll work militarily.”

“Remember, like as an example of many cases that NATO countries, we’re always there for NATO,” Trump told reporters, pointing to “helping them with Ukraine” even though “between us, it doesn’t affect us.”

US SIGNALS READINESS TO ESCORT TANKERS THROUGH HORMUZ AS TRAFFIC THINS BUT NO MISSION LAUNCHED

President Donald Trump issued some stern warnings for NATO to come to the world’s defense or face ‘very bad’ future. (SAUL LOEB / AFP)

“But we’ve helped them,” he added, repeating his comments to the United Nations General Assembly last fall, questioning whether NATO will “always be there for us.”

Trump is looking for NATO allies’ assistance in securing the oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for the rest of the world. Trump administration officials have been repeating throughout the choking of the strait that the U.S. under Trump is a net exporter of oil and gets only a fraction of its oil from the Middle East – unlike the rest of the world, including NATO allies.

“It’d be interesting to see what country wouldn’t help us with a very small endeavor, which is just keeping the Strait open, and that, by comparison is a small [ask],” Trump added to reporters on Air Force One. “It’s small because Iran has very little firepower.”

Marine vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz in a timelapse video.

A timelapse video shows marine traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz. (Kpler/Marine Traffic)

TRUMP SAYS HE MIGHT HAVE ‘FORCED ISRAEL’S HAND’ IN IRAN STRIKE DECISION AS CRITICS QUESTION WAR POWERS

Trump remained optimist that NATO allies will ultimately get on board 

“We are talking to other countries about working with us, but the policing of the strait, and I think we’re getting a good response,” Trump told reporters on AF1. “If we do that’s great – and if we don’t, that’s great.”

President Donald Trump in front of sea mines.

The Iranian regime is using sea mines, which it has stockpiled in the thousands, to make traversing the Strait of Hormuz difficult and deadly. (Win McNamee/Getty Images; Eranicle/iStock)

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NATO has long been a point of contention for Trump, who had to repeatedly call on member organizations to reach even the 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spending threshold during his first administration. Current Trump U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker has hailed this second administration in getting NATO to commit 5% of GDP in defense spending.



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Crude oil stocks adequate, refineries running at full capacity & petrol pumps operating normally: Govt – The Times of India

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Crude oil stocks adequate, refineries running at full capacity & petrol pumps operating normally: Govt – The Times of India


The government on Monday said India’s fuel supply situation remains stable, with adequate crude oil availability and refineries operating at peak capacity even as geopolitical tensions in Middle East continue to disrupt regional energy flows.Addressing concerns over possible shortages, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery) in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the domestic petroleum supply chain is functioning smoothly and retail fuel outlets are operating without disruption.“Crude is available in sufficient quantity. All refineries are operating at the highest capacity. Our petrol pumps are operating normally. No dry out has been reported anywhere,” Sharma said, ANI quoted.Officials noted that oil marketing companies are closely monitoring stock levels and logistics to ensure uninterrupted distribution of petrol and diesel across the country.The assurance comes as Indian-flagged vessels carrying energy cargo continue to transit the conflict-affected Strait of Hormuz. Shipping Ministry Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said an LPG carrier is set to dock at Mundra port shortly, with priority arrangements made to facilitate swift unloading.“Shivalik LPG carrier, which sailed from the Persian Gulf, crossed the Strait of Hormuz and headed towards India, will be reaching today around 5 pm, maybe after an hour or so. And before its arrival, documentation, priority berthing, and everything have been arranged at the port so that there is no delay in the discharge of cargo by this vessel. All Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf area are safe.” He said. “No incident has been reported in the last 24 hours, and we are keeping a continuous watch on the situation. We are in touch with each vessel and its crew. 22 vessels, as was reported on Saturday, also. 22 Indian flag vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf…” Sinha added.He added that another Indian vessel carrying crude oil from the UAE is also safely headed to India.“Indian-flag vessel ‘Jag Laadki’, which sailed from the UAE on 14th of March, is carrying about 81,000 tonnes of Murban crude oil, is safely en route to India. The vessel and all Indian seafarers on board are safe. They’ll be reaching tomorrow at Mundra Port,” Sinha said.External affairs minister S Jaishankar earlier indicated that India is engaging with Iran to facilitate the reopening of the key maritime route. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said diplomatic coordination was beginning to yield results.“Certainly, from India’s perspective, it is better that we reason and we coordinate and we get a solution than we don’t. While this is a welcome development, there is continuing conversation because there is continued work on that,” Jaishankar said.He noted that while recent vessel movements demonstrate progress, passage for Indian ships is currently being managed on a “case-by-case basis.”



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Apollo Tyres introduces UHP all-season Quatrac Pro 2  Tire Technology International



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What are the symptoms of meningitis and is there a vaccine?

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What are the symptoms of meningitis and is there a vaccine?



Two people have died following an outbreak of meningitis, including one student at the University of Kent.



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Patient in Canada waits over 12 hours in hospital emergency room: ‘I’d rather pay’

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Patient in Canada waits over 12 hours in hospital emergency room: ‘I’d rather pay’


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A woman seeking emergency care for severe abdominal pain recently shared her frustration on social media with the long wait times at a Canadian hospital.

Amanda Gushue, 37, first visited her primary care physician — who sent her to the emergency department (ED) with a swollen appendix.

After waiting for two hours in triage, she was sent to the waiting room — where she was shocked to see that it could be anywhere from five to 15 hours before she could see a doctor or nurse.  

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She ultimately waited another 10 to 12 hours before she was seen.

“There were probably about 150 seats, and they were all full,” Gushue, a resident of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, told Fox News Digital. “This is what we deal with when we go to the hospital on a regular basis — you’re looking at spending a full day there.”

Amanda Gushue, 37, sought emergency care for severe abdominal pain and shared her frustration with the long wait times at a Canadian hospital. (Amanda Gushue)

Gushue shared that one elderly woman came in with a head wound, “bleeding profusely,” and had to wait for two hours before she was seen.

Gushue said she attributes the long wait times to a scarcity of doctors. “We have tons of nurses, but no doctors.”

Even after she was admitted, Gushue said she received sub-par care and was not given sufficient privacy.

DANGEROUS TIKTOK TREND LEAVES BOY BADLY BURNED AS DOCTORS ISSUE WARNING

Canada has a universal healthcare system that is funded through taxes, according to the government’s website.

Eligible residents of a province or territory can apply for public health insurance to access free healthcare services, the website states.

“I would rather pay for my healthcare at this point and get treated fairly,” Gushe said.

Emergency room

After waiting two hours in triage, a patient in her late 30s was sent to the waiting room — where she was shocked to see a 15-hour wait time displayed. (iStock)

Part of the problem is that Canada is “overpopulated,” she said, expressing her point of view.

“The healthcare system is overworked right now, and these doctors are probably exhausted,” she said. “They’re working around the clock, and then after a 16- or 17-hour shift, you get a cranky doctor.”

Gushe was ultimately admitted. She had her appendix removed last week. 

She is now recovering and said she “feels great.”

“I would rather pay for my healthcare at this point and get treated fairly.”

In 2024-2025, there were more than 16.1 million unscheduled emergency department visits in Canada’s hospitals, an increase from about 15.5 million the year before, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

Among those patients who were admitted into the hospital from the emergency department, nine out of 10 of the ED visits were completed within 48.5 hours, the above source stated. For those who were not admitted, nine out of 10 were completed within around eight hours.

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Median wait times vary widely by province, CIHI stated.

Some of the main factors contributing to the extended wait times include staff and bed shortages, hospital flow issues (due to lack of primary care access), and overcrowding that leads to system stress, according to the Canadian Medical Association.

Hospital treatment

“The healthcare system is overworked right now, and these doctors are probably exhausted,” Gushue said. (iStock)

Dr. Warren Thirsk, an emergency room doctor in Edmonton, recently shared with the Calgary Journal that he sometimes sees more than 100 people in the waiting room of his hospital, which only has 30 chairs.

“People who can stand, stand. Some are on the ground, and we’re hoping they’re alive,” he said. “And you walk by this carnage, and then you start your day.”

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The doctor added that some patients wait all night to receive care. “What used to be a mass casualty event is now the new norm,” he said, per the report.

Another ED physician, Dr. Michael Howlett, who is president of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, also shared his concerns about the situation.

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“I’ve worked in emergency departments since 1987, and it’s by far the worst it’s ever been. It’s not even close,” he told CityNews, a Canadian news outlet. 

“We’ve got people dying in waiting rooms because we don’t have a place to put them,” he went on. “People being resuscitated on an ambulance stretcher or a floor. Those things have happened.”

Canadian flag unfurled

Canada has a universal healthcare system that is funded through taxes, according to the government’s website. (iStock)

In January, Alberta’s minister of hospitals announced an investigation into the death of a 44-year-old man who died after waiting nearly eight hours in an Edmonton emergency department with chest pain, according to local reports. 

A system review has since been completed by Acute Care Alberta, identifying emergency department overcrowding and triage challenges. The review issued multiple recommendations to prevent similar incidents, though a formal investigation into the death remains ongoing.

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The government also announced new triage liaison physician roles in major hospitals, as physicians report continued overcrowding and capacity issues.

Fox News Digital reached out to Nova Scotia Health and Canada Health requesting comment.



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Transfer rumors, news: Real Madrid plot move for Bayern’s Olise

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Transfer rumors, news: Real Madrid plot move for Bayern’s Olise


Real Madrid are plotting a deal for Bayern Munich star Michael Olise, while Chelsea want to sign Messi… just not the Inter Miami one.

Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is planning a major move to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise in the summer, but Bundesliga leaders do not plan on letting him leave, according to Sport Bild. The 24-year-old’s contract runs until 2029 and doesn’t include a release clause, so Bayern feel no obligation to offload him. Liverpool also want Olise as they look for a possible successor to Mohamed Salah, who could soon leave Anfield.

Arsenal have little intention of letting Riccardo Calafiori leave in the summer despite the defender being the topic of interest from Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli, according to TEAMtalk. The Gunners are fully committed to keeping the 23-year-old, who is settled in north London and not actively looking to leave the Emirates. Interest from Chelsea has also been reported but Calafiori joining the club is seen as highly unlikely.

– Chelsea are lining up a move to sign Rayane Messi from Strasbourg, with the winger on loan at Saudi Pro League club Neom, reports TEAMtalk. Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have also enquired about the 18-year-old but Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, don’t want to see him leave their multi-club network. The plan had originally been for Messi to be integrated into Strasbourg’s first-team next season before heading to Stamford Bridge, but that plan is now being reviewed.

– AC Milan and Inter are among the clubs who will try to compete with Arsenal to sign Leon Goretzka as a free agent when the midfielder’s Bayern Munich contract expires in the summer, as reported by Calciomercato. Milan have already initiated contact with the 31-year-old’s entourage, while Inter are hoping to complete a move that would be similar to the ones they have previously completed for Hakan Çalhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Even so, Arsenal are the frontrunners to complete a deal.

Marseille want to sign Jonathan David in the summer if they qualify for the Champions League but face competition from the Premier League, as reported by Tuttosport. While David would reject any offer from Olympique Lyonnais due to Paulo Fonseca being in charge of Les Gones, the 26-year-old has always been fascinated by the idea of playing in the Premier League. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United all made attempts to sign him in January.

EXPERT TAKE

OTHER RUMORS

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Nicol: Max Dowman is just not normal!

Steve Nicol reacts to Max Dowman becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.

– Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and several LaLiga clubs have been closely monitoring Newcastle United left back Lewis Hall. (Caught Offside)

– Crystal Palace and Leeds United both want Derby County and USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang. (Football Insider)

– Manchester City could sign Tottenham right back Pedro Porro for significantly less than his £70 million valuation. (Football Insider)

– Inter and AC Milan are both seriously considering a move for Manchester City defender Nathan Ake. (Caught Offside)

– Newcastle United could accelerate their plans to renew Kieran Trippier‘s contract amid fears that Tino Livramento could move to Manchester City. (Football Insider)

– Various clubs from England and Europe have contacted Liverpool about signing goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili permanently or on loan. (TEAMtalk)

Rocco Reitz will join RB Leipzig from Borussia Monchengladbach for €20 million plus another potential €3 million in bonuses. (Florian Plettenberg)

– Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic are rapidly moving towards agreeing a new contract, with the striker’s current deal set to expire at the end of the season. (Tuttosport)

– Feyenoord and Wolves will speak to Bournemouth about signing Max Aarons at the end of the season, while Porto are also interested in the right back on loan with Rangers. (Ekrem Konur)



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