China bans ‘bone ash apartments’ where mourners are storing cremated remains instead of cemeteries.
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China bans storing cremated remains in empty 'bone ash apartments'
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Soaring Fuel Prices Threaten Livelihoods of Thailand’s Rice Farmers
Thanadet Traiyot, a rice farmer in Ayutthaya, Thailand, struggles with diesel shortages that threaten his crops due to rising prices fueled by the US-Israel war, impacting farmers’ operations significantly.
Key Points
- Thanadet Traiyot, a rice farmer in Ayutthaya, Thailand, faces severe diesel shortages after waiting hours at gas stations. Fuel scarcity, heightened by the US-Israel war on Iran, threatens his farming operations and the livelihoods of many farmers, as diesel prices surged significantly.
- The energy crisis is disrupting essential services, including transportation and agricultural production. Farmers struggle to source diesel for machinery, while the fishing industry warns of impending shutdowns without government intervention. Fertilizer costs are also expected to rise as the conflict persists.
- Regional governments are implementing measures to conserve fuel, but farmers fear for their futures. Many may have to abandon crops or limit production. Amidst rising costs and ongoing uncertainty, farmers remain hopeful for an end to the conflict, reflecting on the war’s widespread negative impacts.
Fuel Scarcity Impacting Farmers
Thanadet Traiyot, a rice farmer from Ayutthaya, Thailand, has faced significant challenges due to severe diesel shortages affecting his operations. After waiting in line for hours, he learned that the local gas station had run out of diesel, a vital resource for maintaining his rice paddies. The scarcity necessitates careful management of limited water resources, as Thanadet balances the need to operate his pumps and tend to his crops. Coupled with this scarcity, fuel prices have escalated, partly due to geopolitical tensions, making it increasingly difficult for farmers to secure affordable diesel for their agricultural needs.
Wider Economic Disruption
The ongoing energy crisis prompted by the conflict in the Middle East has led to widespread disruptions across Thailand and neighboring countries, heavily reliant on imported energy. Many gas stations report shortages, resulting in reduced services for public transport and halting other critical operations, like cremations in temples. Farmers and fishers are particularly hard-hit, with warnings that the fishing industry could be completely stalled without government intervention to address rising fuel costs. The increase in diesel prices, rising from 29.94 to 38.94 baht per liter, has raised serious concerns about future harvests as more fuel will be needed during the upcoming season.
Concerns for Future Food Security
Experts like Pramote Charoensilp emphasize the potential long-term ramifications of these issues if the conflict continues, particularly regarding the sourcing of fertilizers which are also imported from the Middle East. There are fears that food production costs in regions like Myanmar could double, leading to acute hunger for a significant portion of the population. The UN warns that without intervention, millions globally could face severe food insecurity by 2026. While Thailand’s government is initiating measures to support farmers, including marketing rice above current rates and subsidizing fertilizer costs, many farmers worry about their ability to sustain production. As Thanadet reflects on the situation, he hopes for a swift resolution, acknowledging, “No one benefits from war.”
Source : In Thailand’s rice paddies, rising petrol prices spell chaos for farmers | Thailand
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Nick Cave, Sting, Moby and more headline 60th Montreux Jazz Festival
Nick Cave, Sting, Moby, RAYE, Tyla and Deep Purple at Montreux Jazz
Keystone-SDA
On Tuesday, the Montreux Jazz Festival unveiled the programme for its 60th edition and return to its iconic venues. Headlining the line-up from July 3 to 18: Nick Cave, Sting, RAYE, Moby, Deep Purple, The Roots, James Taylor, Van Morrison and Tyla and Conan Gray.
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“This is a special year for two reasons: we’re celebrating our 60th anniversary and our return to the Convention Centre,” festival director Mathieu Jaton told the media. After a two-year absence, audiences will be returning to the Festival’s two iconic venues at the brand-new Montreux Music & Convention Center (2M2C): the Auditorium Stravinski and the Montreux Jazz Lab. The 2M2C will also house a 1,000-seat Electro Club.
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For this 2026 edition, the 250,000 or so festival-goers expected to attend will have a choice of 67 concerts, including 39 Swiss exclusives. “The programme will be a crossroads of generations, styles and continents, bringing together emerging voices, icons of current pop culture and monuments of jazz, rock and hip-hop,” says the festival’s director.
Translated from German by AI/jdp
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Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. The news stories we select have been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team from news agencies such as Bloomberg or Keystone.
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Crude prices whipsaw on mixed signals from Iran war – Business
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BUSINESS © FRANCE 24 From the show
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1 minOil prices searched for direction on Tuesday amid conflicting events related to the Iran war. While US President Donald Trump’s threats that the US would obliterate Iranian energy infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed led to an increase in prices, a later report saying Trump is seeking an end to the war brought them down. Also in this edition: inflation in France ticks up because of higher energy prices and Australia threatens legal action against social media giants.
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Willis: Accountability Will Lead to Success For Giants’ Manager Tony Vitello
Tony Vitello has struggled to start the 2026 MLB season, as the San Francisco Giants’ new manager dropped all of his first three games in the team’s opening series against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park. After leading the Tennessee Volunteers to a College World Series victory in 2024, he has yet to find the same success as one of the first college coaches to make the leap.
“This worked in college, maybe this isn’t going to work in the big leagues,” FOX Sports baseball analyst Dontrelle Willis said on Monday ahead of the Giants game against the San Diego Padres on FS1.
Willis is slightly skeptical of Vitello, but he’s confident in the signs he’s seeing despite the results. In Willis’ opinion, Vitello’s road to success entails taking accountability in the locker room — with his players and coaches — and with the media. Each of which Vitello has done.
“I love what he said,” Willis said of Vitello’s comments. “‘Hey, I came into this with this type of tone, I’m going to make an adjustment.’”
That adjustment that professional baseball players and college baseball players are different.
“He understands, yes, they have to do their jobs, but you have to hold your players, and really, yourself, accountable,” Willis said. “That’s what he’s doing right there. I love and respect that.”
“You have to be yourself,” he added.
Vitello’s acclimation to the majors will go smoother if he has the confidence of all those in and around his organization. It might take a while, but it’s a long season and patience will lead to results.
“The bottom line is, you have to go out there and win ball games,” Willis said. “The key is to get guys to run through a wall for you and believe in what you’re doing. Hopefully he has a chance to do that. There’s still a lot of time left.”
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10 Essential Things to Know About the Former NBA Star’s Tumultuous Journey and Struggles
LOS ANGELES — As Netflix prepares to release “Untold: The Death and Life of Lamar Odom” on March 31, 2026, the former NBA champion remains a compelling figure whose life has blended basketball glory, reality television fame, devastating personal losses and a long battle with addiction.
At 46, Lamar Joseph Odom continues to navigate recovery while reflecting publicly on his highs and lows. Here are 10 key things to know about the versatile forward who once helped the Los Angeles Lakers win back-to-back championships.
1. Elite NBA Career and Championship Pedigree
Odom was selected fourth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1999 NBA Draft after a standout year at the University of Rhode Island. The 6-foot-10 forward known for his versatility played 14 seasons in the league, suiting up for the Clippers, Miami Heat, Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
His prime came with the Lakers, where he won NBA titles in 2009 and 2010 alongside Kobe Bryant. In 2011, he earned NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors — the first Laker to win the award — averaging strong numbers off the bench while providing elite rebounding, passing and scoring. Odom also represented the United States internationally, winning Olympic bronze in 2004 and gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
2. Tragic Family Losses Shaped His Early Life
Born November 6, 1979, in Queens, New York, Odom endured profound childhood trauma. His father struggled with heroin addiction, and his mother died of colon cancer when he was 12. He has spoken openly about how these events contributed to his later substance issues, with drugs becoming an early escape mechanism.
Odom also faced heartbreaking loss as an adult. He and former partner Liza Morales had three children together: daughter Destiny, son Lamar Jr. and youngest son Jayden, who died of sudden infant death syndrome at six months old in 2006. Odom has described the grief as a trigger that deepened his struggles with cocaine and other substances.
3. High-Profile Marriage to Khloé Kardashian
Odom met Khloé Kardashian in 2009 and married her after a whirlwind 21-day courtship. Their relationship played out on the reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and its spin-offs, bringing Odom into mainstream pop culture.
The marriage faced severe strain from Odom’s infidelity and addiction. Kardashian filed for divorce in 2013, paused proceedings after his 2015 overdose, and finalized the split in 2016. In March 2026, Odom told Page Six that a recent reunion filming for his Netflix documentary felt like he was “under attack,” describing the encounter as uncomfortable.
4. Near-Death Overdose in 2015
Odom’s most publicized crisis occurred in October 2015 at a Nevada brothel, where he was found unconscious after a reported multi-day binge involving cocaine and other substances. He suffered 12 strokes, six heart attacks and kidney failure, spending days in a coma.
Doctors gave him slim survival odds, yet he recovered after being placed on life support. Odom has since described “shaking hands with death” and shared theories about the incident in interviews and his upcoming documentary. The event became a major turning point, though sobriety proved elusive in the years that followed.
5. Ongoing Addiction Battles and Recent Rehab Stint
Addiction has shadowed much of Odom’s post-NBA life. He has admitted to heavy cocaine use that contributed to his career decline and personal turmoil, including a self-described sex addiction that he said intertwined with drug use.
In January 2026, Odom was arrested in Las Vegas for DUI after allegedly driving over 105 mph. He faced additional traffic violations and voluntarily entered a 30-day rehab program at iRely Recovery in Los Angeles to address marijuana use and prevent relapse into harder substances. He completed the program in late February and has described feeling “amazing” and nearly 60 days sober in recent statements.
6. Business Ventures and Sober Living Efforts
Odom has channeled some energy into recovery-related businesses. He has been involved with multiple sober living and treatment facilities, including efforts under the Odom Recovery Group or Odom Wellness Treatment. These initiatives reflect his desire to help others avoid the pitfalls he has faced.
He has also explored coaching opportunities and other post-playing career paths, seeking purpose beyond basketball and reality television.
7. Recent Legal and Personal Setbacks
The January 2026 DUI arrest marked another public stumble. Odom denied being under the influence in some reports while acknowledging the need for accountability. He appeared in court and used the incident as motivation to seek treatment.
In March 2026, he continued promoting his Netflix documentary while addressing awkward interactions with his ex-wife and reflecting on past regrets, including affairs that strained relationships.
8. Athletic Talent and Versatility
At his peak, Odom was one of the NBA’s most skilled “tweeners” — capable of playing power forward, small forward or even center. His court vision, passing ability and rebounding made him a valuable glue guy on championship teams.
High school accolades included Parade Player of the Year honors, and he earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and Tournament MVP at Rhode Island. His left-handed shooting and size gave him a unique skill set that drew comparisons to versatile big men of his era.
9. Public Reflections and Documentary Spotlight
Odom has grown increasingly candid in recent years. The upcoming Netflix “Untold” documentary, premiering March 31, 2026, promises deeper insights into his overdose, addiction, Lakers tenure and Kardashian relationship. He has discussed first experiences with cocaine, dreams involving Kobe Bryant and lessons from near-death.
These appearances position him as both a cautionary tale and a story of resilience, with Odom emphasizing daily presence and self-improvement.
10. Current Outlook and Path Forward
As of late March 2026, Odom appears focused on sustained sobriety and personal growth. He has expressed pride in completing rehab and a desire to move forward positively. While challenges persist — including the recent DUI and family dynamics — he continues to engage in recovery work and public speaking.
Odom’s story resonates as one of talent squandered and redemption pursued. From Queens courts to NBA championships, reality TV fame to life-threatening overdose and repeated recovery attempts, his journey illustrates the complexities of addiction, grief and second chances.
With the Netflix documentary set to revisit his “death and life,” audiences will gain fresh perspective on a man who has repeatedly confronted his demons. Whether Odom can maintain long-term stability remains an open question, but his willingness to share vulnerabilities has made him a relatable figure far beyond the basketball world.
For fans and observers, Lamar Odom in 2026 represents both a reminder of basketball excellence and the human cost of unresolved trauma and substance issues. His latest steps toward accountability suggest cautious optimism as he turns another page in a remarkably eventful life.
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Promoting student involvement at VET system level in the Netherlands
The EQAVET Dutch National Reference Point held a peer review on promoting student involvement in VET quality assurance at system level, recognizing students as key stakeholders and participation a priority.
CINOP, the EQAVET Dutch National Reference Point, hosted its online peer review on 12 and 13 March 2026 focusing on promoting student involvement at VET system level. 10 EQAVET Network members from Belgium-fr, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovenia acted as peer reviewers.
The main objective of the peer review was to support the hosts in ensuring that student participation at system level goes beyond informal representation structures and contributes substantively to quality enhancement.
In the Netherlands, students are considered a key stakeholder for education quality. The involvement of VET students in society, notably politics, is a policy priority, as 40% of the Dutch workforce has a VET diploma.
VET students are represented by JOBmbo, the national VET student association and main stakeholder. JOBmbo is well recognised by the VET ecosystem; included in national processes and the development of policy documents such as the Work Agenda for VET and the VET Work Placement Act; and collaborates with VET stakeholders including the Ministry of Education, the Inspectorate and MBO Raad, the national council for VET providers. At VET provider level, student involvement is integrated in the entire policy and quality cycle.
However, students have a limited understanding of and interest in QA. Despite some incentives, their participation in QA at system level is based on informal representation structures and the involvement of students from minorities is currently minimal.
Read the flash report summarizing the main outcomes of the discussion.
Additionally, a separate report containing detailed feedback from the peer reviewers will be shared with the host country.
