NewsBeat

Netanyahu plots Lebanon ‘invasion’ with new ‘buffer zone’ – grim new Israel border MAPPED

Published

4 hours ago

26 March 2026

Israel’s prime minister warned his military would ‘break boundaries in every sense of the word’ as he threatened to extend a ‘buffer zone’ in Lebanon as war with Hezbollah and Iran continues

Benjamin Netanyahu has made a chilling vow to extend Israel’s “buffer zone” into southern Lebanon and threatens to continue his war against Hezbollah.

A terrifying new map could show what this “larger buffer zone” might look like after the Israeli prime minister threatened to seize land in the neighbouring nation. Tensions between Israel and its neighbour intensified after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in retaliation to Netanyahu and Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran – which killed the supreme leader on February 28. Netanyahu warned he and his military were “breaking boundaries in every sense of the word”.

The leader claims his latest plans are in response to Israel’s conflict with Iran, saying: “We are simply creating a larger buffer zone. Now, dismantling Hezbollah is our focus.

“This is related to the overall campaign with Iran, which is still ongoing contrary to what has been reported in the media but it is our intention to do everything to fundamentally change the situation in Lebanon.”

In a meeting with Israel’s military chief of staff, the country’s defence minister Israel Katz said the forces would “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani” – a river in Lebanon around 20 miles north of the border with Israel.

Katz also said the bridges over this river “have been blown up and the IDF will control the remaining bridges” after the defence minister claimed Hezbollah were using the bridged to move weapons over into southern Lebanon.

In a video statement, Netanyahu said: “We have created a genuine security zone preventing any infiltration toward the Galilee and the northern border. We are expanding this zone to push the threat from anti-tank missiles further away and to establish a broader buffer zone.”

On Monday, Israel’s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said his country should “apply sovereignty” to parts of southern Lebanon in a shocking call.

This comes as Israel continues to wage war against Iran and Hezbollah, despite Trump dishing out mixed messages on whether he wants to end the conflict or continue.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon ordered US ground troops to the Middle East but negotiators also sent Iran a 15-point peace plan. Despite this, the US President said: “They [Iran] are begging to work out a deal. I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that. I don’t know if we’re willing to do that. They should have done that four weeks ago. They should have done it two years ago.”

Trump and Netanyahu have also appeared to clash after the Israeli leaders suggestion for the US to encourage a street uprising to challenge the Iranian regime. the US President told the Israeli Prime Minister during a telephone conversation last week: “Why the hell should we tell people to take to the streets when they’ll just get mowed down.”

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NewsBeat

Premium UK chocolate company collapses into administration

Published

7 minutes ago

26 March 2026

NewsAdmin

Premium UK chocolate company collapses into administration

Marasu’s Petit Fours was founded back in 1986 by “master-patissiers” Rolf Kern and Gabi Kohler.

The aim of the business was to supply “London’s top hotels, restaurants and clubs with premium chocolates and petits fours”.

The company grew to become London’s largest producer of premium chocolates, with annual production of over 300 tonnes from its 25,000 sq foot facilities in Park Royal, according to business experts Odoo.

Marasu’s, which was acquired by Prestat Group Ltd in 2006, has provided chocolates to some big-name brands, including:

Selfridges
Harrods
Fortnum & Mason
Pret a Manger

Marasu’s Petit Fours at risk of closing as it enters administration

After 40 years, Marasu’s Petit Fours is now at risk of closing.

The premium chocolate company entered administration last month, according to Companies House, along with its parent company Prestat Ltd.

Alessandro Sidoli and Jessica Barker of Xeinadin Corporate Recovery Limited have been appointed joint administrators.

Marasu’s collapse follows a tough few years for chocolate manufacturers.

The Grocery Gazette explains: “Global cocoa prices surged to record highs in 2024 after disease and extreme weather hit crops in Ghana and Ivory Coast, which together account for around 60 per cent of global cocoa production.

“For premium chocolate manufacturers, sharply rising ingredient costs, combined with higher energy and operating expenses, have significantly squeezed margins even for established heritage brands.”

What happens when a company goes into administration?

Put simply, when a company enters administration, it means that it is unable to pay expenses, debts, or other liabilities, according to SquareUp.com.

Companies House adds: “When a company goes into administration, they have entered a legal process (under the Insolvency Act 1986) with the aim of achieving one of the statutory objectives of an administration. This may be to rescue a viable business that is insolvent due to cashflow problems.

“An appointment of an administrator (a licensed insolvency practitioner) will be made by directors, a creditor or the court to fulfil the administration process.”

A statutory moratorium is put in place once a company enters administration, giving it “breathing space” to allow for financial restructuring plans to be drawn up free from creditor enforcement actions.

A company can continue to trade while in administration, but daily management and control is handed over to the administrators.

Companies House continues: “Within 8 weeks it is the administrators’ role to formulate administration proposals.

“Creditors are then asked to vote by a decision procedure to approve the administrators’ proposals.

“If the administration involves a sale of all or part of the company’s business, the proceeds (after the costs of the procedure) will be distributed to creditors in a statutory order of priority.”

Administration will end automatically after 12 months unless the administrator asks the court or creditors for an extension.

Through administration, a company can be:

Rescued and passed back to the directors
Enter liquidation
Be dissolved

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026 (so far)

It has been a rough start to 2026 for the UK high street, with several retailers entering administration and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street retailers, including River Island, Primark, and Poundland, have already been forced to close stores in 2026, while Revolution and BrewDog have shut the doors to 21 and 38 pubs, respectively.

Several other retailers have fallen into administration recently, including:

Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have closed in the opening weeks of 2026:

EcoJet Airlines, billed as “the world’s first Electric Airline”, has also entered liquidation after just three years, resulting in the cancellation of all planned flights.

What has a nose, wings and runs off of hydrogen? Ecojet 😎 pic.twitter.com/y8QGiBdFe2
— ecotricity (@ecotricity) July 17, 2023

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out over the coming months after being acquired by InPost.

Tesco also recently revealed plans to cut 380 jobs in stores across the UK, while it’s been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Have you tried Marasu’s Petit Fours chocolates before? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

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