What we know on the 21st day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

The US-Israel war against Iran is nearing the end of a third week, with Israel saying it won't attack any more major Iranian energy sites –– as Tehran's retaliatory strikes on Gulf nations push global oil prices up.

Countries around the world, as well as the United Nations, are working to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Arab and Islamic leaders urge Iran to cease its attacks. US President Donald Trump made headlines today for downplaying the hefty bill of war costs –– and for cracking a joke about the Pearl Harbor attack during a summit with Japan's leader.

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Here's what to know on Day 21.

What are the main headlines?

• Energy strikes: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country will heed Trump's call not to repeat attacks on key Iranian energy sites like the South Pars field, part of the world's largest natural gas reserve. Netanyahu said Israel acted alone in striking a facility linked to the gas field Wednesday. However, two US and Israeli sources familiar with the strike have contradicted Trump's claim that the US "knew nothing" about it.

• Oil market: Tehran has retaliated with strikes on energy infrastructure in Israel and Qatar. The global oil benchmark hit $115 a barrel Thursday, and one expert said gas prices could remain high for at least several weeks.

• Strait of Hormuz: The United Nations' maritime organization said it will start negotiating with countries to establish a humanitarian corridor to free around 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf. The UN did not give a timeframe for when talks would begin, or whether Iran –– which has a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz –– would cooperate. The United Kingdom has also sent military planners to work with the US to come up with a "viable collective plan" to reopen the vital waterway.

• Wartime funding: Trump is seeking $200 billion in new Pentagon funding, calling it a "small price to pay" to equip the military. His administration also bypassed Congress to expedite the sale of billions of dollars' worth of weapons to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as Gulf allies take the brunt of Iran's retaliation for US and Israeli military action.

• Pearl Harbor joke: When a reporter asked Trump why he didn't tell allies like Japan about his intention to strike Iran, the president responded in part with a joke about the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor –– while sitting next to Japan's prime minister in the Oval Office.

• Boots on the ground: Trump said he's not deploying US troops, when asked about Reuters' reporting that his administration is considering sending thousands to the Middle East. But he also added: "If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you, but I'm not putting troops."

What's happening on the ground?

• US aircraft hit: An F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a US air base in the Middle East after it was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, sources told CNN. US Central Command said the pilot is in a stable condition.

• Strikes on the ground: Countries across the Middle East intercepted drones and missiles early Friday morning, including Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait. The attacks come as Muslims around the region celebrate the Eid al-Fitr festival, that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

• High casualties: More than 18,000 Iranian civilians have been injured since the latest conflict began, according to state media, citing the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Meanwhile in Lebanon, the death toll surpassed 1,000 on Thursday. Scores more have been killed around the region, including US service members and foreign nationals.

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byNeo

in

March 20, 2026

What we know on the 21st day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

The US-Israel war against Iran is nearing the end of a third week, with Israel saying it won't attack any more major ...

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Norway's crown princess says she was 'manipulated and deceived' by Epstein

By Terje Solsvik and Johan Ahlander

FILE PHOTO: Norway's Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit

OSLO, March 20 (Reuters) - Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit said on Friday she regretted her friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, seeking to contain one of the biggest scandals to hit the country's royal family.

The U.S. Justice Department's ‌release of millions of Epstein documents has sent shockwaves around the world, revealing the disgraced financier's ties to prominent people, including the crown ‌princess and top Norwegian politicians, business executives and diplomats.

"I was manipulated and deceived," Mette-Marit said in a tearful interview with public broadcaster NRK screened on Friday morning.

"Of course, I wish I had never ​met him," she said of Epstein.

FILES SHOW FREQUENT CONTACT

The files showed frequent communication between Mette-Marit and Epstein that occurred long after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting an underage girl. The 52-year-old crown princess, who apologised to King Harald and Queen Sonja in a February 6 statement, has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing.

While earlier media coverage had shown that Mette-Marit had links to Epstein, the new documents showed a more extensive relationship, prompting an unusual rebuke from the prime minister and ‌demands that she give a full account.

The princess, the ⁠spouse of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne, maintained contact with Epstein from 2011 to 2014, and stayed at his Palm Beach house for four days during a private trip in 2013, the U.S. files show.

"He used the fact ⁠that we had a mutual friend, and that I'm gullible. I like to believe the best about people. But I also chose to end contact with him," Mette-Marit said.

"I've never seen anything illegal," she told NRK.

The Epstein files appeared to contradict a statement she gave in 2019, in which she apologised for not having investigated his past and said ​she ​would never have associated with him had she known the seriousness of the crimes he ​committed.

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In one released email from October 2011, three years after ‌Epstein pleaded guilty, Mette-Marit wrote to him that she had googled him and that she agreed "it didn't look too good", followed by a smiley.

When asked about the email by NRK, Mette-Marit said she could not remember why she wrote it.

"But if I had found information that made me realise that he was an abuser and sex offender, I wouldn't have written a smiley face behind it," she said.

PERSONAL STRUGGLES

Sitting beside her, Mette-Marit's husband Haakon said he supported his wife at a difficult time and that marriage is both for "the good days and the bad".

"Mette is caring, wise and really strong. And that's why I will always have ‌her on the team when something difficult happens," the crown prince said.

While Haakon and the ​rest of the royal family have maintained a busy schedule — including visiting the Winter Olympics in ​Italy and attending functions in Norway — the crown princess has not ​appeared in public for weeks.

Suffering from a chronic lung disease that will eventually require her to have a lung transplant, Mette-Marit ‌is also dealing with the trial of her eldest son from ​a previous relationship, who is accused of ​rape and other crimes.

Her son, Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, has declared himself not guilty of rape and domestic abuse while admitting in court to some lesser charges.

The Norwegian royal family's popularity has taken a hit in recent months, a February survey of 1,009 respondents showed.

Some 60% of Norwegians ​supported the monarchy, down from 70% in January, according ‌to the Norstat poll published on February 21 by public broadcaster NRK, while 27% supported a republic, up from 19% over the same ​period.

The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik in Oslo and Gwladys Fouche in ​Oslo, and Johan Ahlander in Stockholm; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Ros Russell)

byNeo

in

March 20, 2026

Norway's crown princess says she was 'manipulated and deceived' by Epstein

By Terje Solsvik and Johan Ahlander FILE PHOTO: Norway's Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Mari...

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Why people are turning to salt rooms and halotherapy to unwind

The way to a healthier lifestyle might be... salty?

Salt rooms, also called salt caves, are spaces that boost breathing and alleviate stress by exposing our bodies to air containing naturally occurring minerals, according toMargaret Smiechowski, the owner ofSalt Cave Inc.andOceanair Himalayan Salt Cavein Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Breathing very small salt particles boosts our respiratory health, skin and overall wellness in a gentle session that lets us check out from our busy lives.

"The experience is simple, relaxing, and surprisingly powerful," she said. "Just breathing, resting, and allowing nature's oldest mineral to do its work."

The history of halotherapy

Salt therapy, also known as halotherapy, isn't a new wellness trend, according to Smiechowski, who has been building salt rooms and salt caves across the United States for more than two decades. The practice has been ongoing for decades, originating in Eastern Europe as a natural method before studios and spas started advertising salt rooms.

The beginnings trace back toWieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Poland, which became a halotherapy destination in the 1800s after Feliks Boczkowski studied salt's beneficiary effects on miners, according to theSalt Therapy Association. The site is now ahealth resortmore than 400 feet underground people can visit to get treatments.

Modern salt rooms you may see at your local shopping center today attempt to recreate the conditions of natural subterreanean salt mines like Wieliczka, Smiechowski said. This is done by infusing air with microscopic particles of pharmaceutical-grade salt, which are small enough to enter your mouth or nose and fill your body with mineral-rich air.

Take halotherapy with a grain of salt, doctors say

Inhaling teeny salt particles can provide anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory method for a variety of health conditions, according to theSalt Therapy Association, an organization that promotes salt therapy. These include respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, colds, bronchitis, COPD, cystic fibrosis and ear infections, among others.

Halotherapy is also a service used for skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema, acne and rosacea. The salt normalizes pH levels and encourages reparative and regenerative cycles for our skin, as well as boosting skin growth and strength, according to theSalt Therapy Association.

It's important to remember that halotherapy is not a medical treatment, according toBruce A. Brod, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. So any potential benefits should be taken with a grain of salt.

"There's no scientific evidence or high-quality medical literature to support any benefit to skin health from salt rooms," Brod says. "I haven't had patients ask me about using salt rooms, but if someone did, I'd tell them that while the experience might feel relaxing, there is limited evidence on any particular health benefits to the skin."

He added that he is concerned salt exposure could interact negatively with our skin, irritating conditions or disturbing prescribed topical medications, curbing their effectiveness.

There is still much research to be done on the extent of benefits halotherapy provides, according to Laxminarayan Prahhakar, pulmonology fellow at Northwell's Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"There is inconsistent evidence but there is data that shows improved lung function, and mucus clearance for people with chronic respiratory diseases.," Prahhakar says. "Depending on their respiratory condition, they would require inhalers, antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications. These treatment options should be discussed with their healthcare provider."

But the risk of salt therapy remains extremely low, and at the bare minimum can be an enjoyable break from our busy routines. Zoning out amid the soft glow of the salt room can help reduce stress and boost mental health, Smiechowski says. The session can be a retreat for our minds and bodies.

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Wellness:How much vitamin D3 should you take every day?

What to know about trying a salt room

There are two kinds of salt room to look for: "Active" salt rooms involve a halogenerator dispersing crushed pure sodium chloride into the air, according to theSalt Therapy Association. "Passive" salt rooms attempt to mimic a natural salt cave, stocking a room with types of salt such as Dead Sea, Himalayan and Rock Salt. The salt isn't pumped through the air, so it's not considered halotherapy. But "passive" salt therapy in a controlled climate does provide many of the same psychological benefits, according to the association.

You may see a crop of salt rooms popping up in your community, so Smiechowski advises to look out for a few key elements:

• Salt-covered walls throughout the room

• A professional halogen generator system, which propels the mini salt particles through the air.

• Proper humidity and climate control

• Clear information about how the therapy works

"If any of these elements are missing, the therapy may not be effective," she said.

The lack of standards for salt rooms is a concern for Brod, too, he says, especially if people have a health vulnerability that could be exacerbated by the wrong treatement.

"We just don't know and the research has not been done," he says. "I am not aware of any authoritative standards being set by medical regulatory agencies at the state or national level."

If you do visit one, Smiechowski says to prepare to get comfortable in the space, relax and breath in the air while reclining. You may not notice the salt, even if it's doing its job, she said.

"When guests leave the session, they shouldn't be covered in salt," Smiechowski said. "Instead, the experience is subtle. You might notice only a slight saltiness on your lips."

Better rest:How to go to sleep fast and stay asleep through the night

Are salt rooms safe for kids?

Not only does breathing the air clear mucus and reduce airway inflammation for kids, but it can provide a tactile activity for young ones, Smiechowski said. The floor is typically laid with salt crystals, which kids can dig or play with as they breath in the healthy air.

"It is likely low risk ... but overall more research is needed," says Melanie Brown, medical director of Pediatric Palliative and Integrative Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "For children especially, we want to be careful not to substitute therapies like salt rooms for treatments that we know are effective. If a child has asthma or another chronic respiratory condition, evidence-based care and making a plan with your pediatrician or pulmonologist should always come first."

Brown says too look out for how salt rooms are maintained before taking kids.

"Parents should pay close attention to cleanliness, air quality and infection control when considering these spaces and always discuss any treatments with your medical care provider."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What is a salt room? Why people use halotherapy for health benefits

byNeo

in

March 20, 2026

Why people are turning to salt rooms and halotherapy to unwind

The way to a healthier lifestyle might be... salty? Salt rooms, also called salt caves, are spaces that boost b...

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Taylor Frankie Paul's 'The Bachelorette' season canceled amid domestic violence allegations

The Bachelorettehas been put on hold asthe falling out between Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen continues to unfold. The ABC reality series, which was set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, has been removed from the schedule, and the network has not indicated whether it will air at a later date.

"In light of the newly released video that surfaced today, we have made the decision not to move forward with the new season ofThe Bacheloretteat this time, and our focus is on supporting the family," a spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television tells Yahoo in a statement.

The news comes shortly after TMZ published a video from a 2023 fight between Paul and Mortensen — an incident that appears to be the same one that led to Paul's arrest at the time. The footage is separate from the alleged domestic dispute in February that prompted the current investigation.

"Taylor is very grateful for ABC's support as she prioritizes her family's safety and security," a representative for Paulsaid in a statementto People after news broke. "After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm."

The statement continued: "There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story."

Authorities inUtah confirmedthere is an active domestic violence investigation involving the former couple, who share a 2-year-old son, Ever. The Draper City Police Department said officers made contact with both parties on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, and that allegations have been made in both directions. News of the February incident surfaced Sunday night, shortly after Paul attended the Oscars and just one week before her season ofThe Bachelorettewas set to premiere. Officials have declined to release further details while the case remains open.

The newly released footage appears to show Paul striking and kicking Mortensen, and at one point, throwing a chair in his direction while a young child is nearby. Paul also shares two older children, ages 8 and 5, with her ex-husband. (They divorced after a "soft swinging" sex scandal.)

Paul issued astatement to Varietyon Thursday: "It's sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child. Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son's birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior. Thankfully, the public has seen this act before and knows who he is and sadly, many will recognize this pattern of manipulation, both in his actions on the show, and from their own experiences."

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Despite news of the February incidents leaking on Sunday, Paul continued promotingThe Bacheloretteas planned, making appearances onGood Morning AmericaandLive with Kelly and Mark, both ABC shows, where she briefly addressed the situation. As of Wednesday, a networksource told Yahoothe show was still expected to premiere as scheduled, suggesting internal discussions shifted quickly following the release of the TMZ video.

Paul and Mortensen began dating in the summer of 2022, and their tumultuous relationship has played out onThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wivessince its 2024 premiere.

Paul was arrested in 2023 following the alleged altercation depicted in the video. She later entered a guilty plea in abeyance to aggravated assault, meaning the charge could be dismissed if she complies with the terms of the agreement.

According toTMZ, Mortensen filed for a protective order in Utah on Tuesday, seeking temporary custody of Ever and requesting that Paul abstain from alcohol and drugs during her parenting time.

A representative for Mortensensaid in a statementWednesday that his priority is protecting the couple's young son and that he hopes to maintain a cooperative co-parenting relationship with Paul. The rep also pushed back on suggestions that Mortensen was responsible for the timing of the allegations becoming public.

The fallout has also extended toThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, where production on Season 5 has been paused as the investigation unfolds. A source previously told Variety that the halt is expected to be temporary and that the alleged February incident did not occur while cameras were rolling. Cast members have said the decision to stop filmingwas a collective one, with one costar noting they "didn't feel comfortable" continuing production amid the situation.

The controversy has also had commercial impact.A key brand partner, Cinnabon, ended its collaboration with bothThe BacheloretteandThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, citing the allegations as no longer aligning with its brand values.

Behind the scenes, concern for Paul has been growing. A source told People thatsome are worriedabout Paul's well-being and want her to get the help she needs. Sources also said earlier this week that contestants from Paul's season ofThe Bachelorettewere caught off guard by the investigation, with some describing feeling betrayed by the situation.

The sudden decision to pull the season days from its premiere marks an unprecedented moment for the long-running franchise. While Bachelor Nation has weathered controversy before, including production pauses, contestant scandals and the exit of longtime host Chris Harrison, the show has aired as planned.

byNeo

in

March 20, 2026

Taylor Frankie Paul's 'The Bachelorette' season canceled amid domestic violence allegations

The Bachelorettehas been put on hold asthe falling out between Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen continues to unfo...

Read More