Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Commercial rocket makes maiden flight 17:06, March 31, 2026 By ZHAO LEI at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center ( China Daily Kinetica 2, the new rocket model developed by Beijing-headquartered CAS Space, lifts off for its maiden flight from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China on Monday. WANG JIANGBO/FOR CHINA DAILY A leading commercial space company conducted the debut flight of its new carrier rocket model on Monday, placing an experimental robotic cargo spaceship and two satellites into their designated orbits. Kinetica 2, the new rocket model developed by Beijing-headquartered CAS Space, blasted off at 7 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, with flames shooting out of its nine first-stage engines and illuminating a vast expanse of the Gobi Desert. After a short flight, the rocket reached outer space and deployed the New March 02 experimental spaceship, the New March 01 technology demonstration satellite and the TS 01 educational satellite into their preset orbital positions. Designed and built by the Shanghai-based Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the New March 02 is a single-section cargo vessel weighing 4.2 metric tons. It features new technologies and is capable of operating in orbit for three years. Previously, the only cargo spaceship used by China was the Tianzhou, a larger model made by the China Academy of Space Technology. To date, nine Tianzhou vessels have been launched and eight of them have transported fuel and supplies to the Tiangong space station. Yang Haoliang, project manager of Kinetica 2, said that the new rocket model will offer China's mission planners a fresh option when they prepare for cargo delivery to the Tiangong. "They now have at least two types of launch vehicles to send materials to the space station, and these two can act as backup for each other, which gives more flexibility to the cargo transportation system," he said. Monday's launch was the 12th orbital mission completed by CAS Space, a company established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It also marked the first time a commercial rocket was used in China's manned space program. The 53-meter-tall Kinetica 2 is a medium-lift, liquid-fuel rocket, and the second launch vehicle developed by CAS Space following Kinetica 1. It is the company's first liquid-propellant rocket, and is tasked with supporting China's large-scale satellite deployment and low-cost cargo transportation for the Chinese space station. The rocket consists of a multistage core booster, which has a diameter of 3.35 meters, and two side boosters that are equally wide. Its liftoff weight is 625 tons, with a maximum thrust of 753 tons. The rocket is able to transport spacecraft with a combined weight of 8 tons to a typical sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers, or 12 tons to a low-Earth orbit 200 km above land. A key feature of the rocket is its modular design, especially the common booster core configuration, in which the first-stage core booster and the two side boosters have the exact same module. Kinetica 2 is the first Chinese rocket to adopt such a configuration. The model can either remove its two side boosters or add two more side boosters, thereby adjusting its carrying capacity to meet different mission requirements. To save research time and operational costs, the Kinetica 2 uses flight-proven components from its predecessor, the Kinetica 1, and uses 10 identical engines as its power plant. Attempts at recovery Lian Jie, one of the deputy chief designers of Kinetica 2, said the rocket will make attempts to recover its first-stage core booster and the two side boosters in following flights. "The three boosters will stick together during the whole flight, which means they will fly back as a whole unit. Such a design requires fewer parts on the boosters and allows for better aerodynamic performance, higher reliability and lower manufacturing cost," he said. Yang, the project manager, said that CAS Space plans to build an annual production capacity of 20 Kinetica 2 rockets at its newly finished "super factory" in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, and will continue to reduce the model's launch cost by reusing major components. The current per kilogram launch cost of Kinetica 2 in nonrecoverable mode is roughly equivalent to that of the Falcon 9, a rocket made by United States-based private spaceflight company SpaceX. Yang said that once the Kinetica 2 achieves reusability, its launch cost is expected to be half that of Falcon 9. Lian, the deputy chief designer, said that CAS Space has developed a rocket upper stage called Kinastra 1, which is scheduled to make its maiden flight this year. In the future, it will be mounted atop the Kinetica 2 to extend the rocket family's extraterrestrial reach, he said. "That will make us the first commercial space enterprise in China to be capable of transporting payloads to high-altitude orbits, such as a geosynchronous transfer orbit or even a lunar transfer orbit," he added. The upper stage is an optional module for rockets. It operates after the rocket's core stage and strap-on boosters stop working and separate from the payloads, propelling the spacecraft on interplanetary trajectories, or into orbits higher than what could otherwise be reached using conventional boosters. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) PITTSBURGH, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- "As a miner, sewer/water worker, and heavy construction worker, I needed a better way to protect my tape measure against rust and damage," said an inventor from Milwaukee, Wisc. As a result, they developed the TAPE SAVER, designed specifically to provide a durable and protective accessory that prevents water and debris from getting into the tape, which could help the tape measure last for years instead of just weeks or months. InventHelp Invention Spotlight: TAPE SAVER Protects Tape Measures Provides a new accessory designed to protect a tape measure. Prevents sawdust, dirt, mud, water, and other debris from entering. Helps prevent damage to the tape measure, internal spring, and tape hook. InventHelp Client's Invention for Workers and Others who Use Tape Measures With more workers looking to extend the life of a tape measure, there may be a demand for a new protective accessory. The TAPE SAVER offers a durable design that is easy to apply. Plus, it ensures proper retraction. Potential Licensing Opportunities for InventHelp 123Invent Client: The design has been submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp. The invention is available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers who may wish to bring it to market. For more information, visit www.tapesaver.net. Or contact James Cain at 414-588-8144 or email [email protected] . About InventHelp: Empowering Inventors with Assistance, Guidance, and Potential Visibility InventHelp is one of America's largest and longest-running invention-service companies, helping inventors and entrepreneurs. Since 1984, the company has assisted clients with invention submission, prototype modeling services, invention websites, patent referral services, and more. InventHelp's provides services on how to present, promote and protect inventions. InventHelp has a network of regional sales offices across the U.S. and Canada. With its Invention Services, InventHelp provides confidentiality, step-by-step support, and help to innovators who wish to submit their inventions to industry, either through us or on their own. To learn more about InventHelp, visit InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp There is one recent development upon which we really should all agree erecting a gold statue of President Trump in the middle of his proposed presidential library is a No Good, Very Bad Idea. Los Angeles Times by Giuseppe Caffulli In the shadows cast by war in the Palestinian territories, construction work is progressing on projects designed to normalise life in Jewish settlements. Work began at the end of February on a new road connecting settlements north and south of Ramallah with Israel proper. The US$ 215-million investment will benefit places inhabited by just a few tens of thousands of settlers. But the goal is to bring one million residents to Judea and Samaria. Milan (AsiaNews) While the war with Iran and other Middle Eastern conflicts are attracting international attention, and the humanitarian tragedy caused by the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has been relegated to the margins of mainstream media coverage, transformations in the West Bank continue, with the annexation of the Occupied Territories proceeding unabated. At the end of February, the Israeli government celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Road 45, also known as Quarries Road, a major highway that will directly connect the Israeli settlement bloc east and north of Ramallah with the road network leading into Israel. The new infrastructure (promoted by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a right-wing nationalist leader, and Ministry of Transport, National Infrastructure and Road Safety Miri Regev) is not a simple road project: It is part of a broader strategy to increasingly integrate Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank into the life of the country by bypassing Palestinian population centres and reducing the need for settlers to pass through Israeli military checkpoints. According to promoters, the road will allow those living in communities such as Kokhav Ya'akov, Beit El, Ofra, Psagot, and Ma'aleh Levona to reach Israel in just a few minutes, without going through the usual traffic hubs near Jerusalem or checkpoints like Hizma. For various peace organisations and critics of Israeli government policy, this project is not simply an infrastructure improvement; instead, it is a concrete step toward the de facto annexation of the West Bank, a normalisation of the presence of Israeli settlers on the ground that undermines the possibility of a negotiated political solution. The Israeli Peace Now movement, which for decades has monitored settlement expansion and the construction of bypass roads intended to isolate or bypass Palestinian communities, has slammed the project as a prime example of this policy. While roads inside Israel are collapsing and unable to cope with the traffic load, the government is pouring enormous budgets into a small minority of settlers in grandiose projects that Israel will ultimately be forced to evacuate, the group said in a statement. For the latter, bypassing Palestinian communities with dedicated roads neither solves nor alleviates political problems, but rather perpetuates and consolidates the reality of occupation and geographical fragmentation. Peace Nows reaction follows more criticism from peace groups and international observers, who had already noted that road infrastructure built without interconnections with Palestinian communities serves only to consolidate settlement policy and change West Bank geography (and demographics). It should be noted that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international humanitarian law, specifically Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of civilian populations by the occupying power into occupied territory. This view has been confirmed by the International Court of Justice and various United Nations resolutions. The Road 45 project is by no means isolated. It is linked to other government projects, namely the expansion and modernisation of strategic roads such as the Qalandiya underpass, Road 60 between Sha'ar Binyamin and the British Police Junction (a major intersection located along the road between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim), and the widening of Road 437 between Hizma and Sha'ar Binyamin. These road projects, which together cost NIS 680 million (approximately US$ 215 million), are designed to serve only a few tens of thousands of settlers. For their part, Israeli authorities and projects supporters defend them as necessary for the mobility and safety of residents and as a measure to promote economic development linked to the daily work that settlers largely carry out in Israel proper. At the inauguration ceremony, Minister Regev stated that the road is part of the effort to "bring one million residents to Judea and Samaria. Roads are, in fact, key to settlement development: the faster and more convenient they are, the more attractive settlements become. Proof of this is the opening of the eastern Bethlehem bypass road (the so-called Lieberman Road), which resulted in the doubling in less than ten years of the number of settlers in the various settlements located along the road. In short, while war is sowing death and destruction elsewhere in the Middle East (Lebanon first and foremost) and the Iran-Israel-US conflict has become regional, affecting the Gulf countries and even Saudi Arabia, profound structural changes are taking place in the West Bank without much fanfare amid the silence of the international media. These transformations are drastically, perhaps irreversibly, altering the prospects for peace in the region. 1 April 2026 07:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more On 1 April 2016, the long-simmering conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted into what would later be known as the Four-Day War, a brief but decisive escalation that shattered illusions, redrew assumptions, and quietly set the stage for a far larger reckoning. For years, the conflict over Karabakh had been lazily labelled a frozen one. Diplomats spoke in rehearsed phrases, while negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group drifted into stagnation. However, beneath this veneer of stability, tensions were anything but dormant. The April escalation did not occur in a vacuum. It was preceded by sustained provocations from the Armenian side, where ceasefire violations increased, intensified shelling of Azerbaijani positions, and a growing sense that the status quo was being exploited rather than resolved. For Baku, patience had worn thin. The line had been tested too often. What followed was swift, calculated, and revealing. In just four days, the Azerbaijani army demonstrated a level of combat readiness that took many observers by surprise. More importantly, it dismantled one of the most enduring myths of the conflict: the supposed invincibility of Armenias defensive lines. The much-vaunted fortifications, often portrayed as impenetrable, proved anything but. This gives grounds to say that it was not merely a tactical success but was a psychological rupture. For years, Armenian narratives had leaned heavily on the idea of an unassailable frontline, reinforcing a belief that territorial realities were permanent. The April fighting punctured that illusion. It showed, in stark terms, that the status quo was neither stable nor sustainable. In Azerbaijan, the impact was immediate and profound. After decades of fruitless negotiations, the events of April rekindled public confidence. The message was clear: occupation was not a fait accompli, and change, even if not through diplomacy, could be enforced through strength. Internationally, the shock was equally significant. The idea of a frozen conflict suddenly looked dangerously misleading. Mediators were forced to confront an uncomfortable truth: the longer a resolution was delayed, the higher the risk of renewed war. Perhaps the most important legacy of those four days lies not in what they achieved at the time, but in what they foretold. The April clashes became, in effect, a rehearsal, a testing ground for tactics, technologies, and command structures that would later define the outcome of the Second Karabakh War. Azerbaijan used the moment to assess its capabilities, refine its military doctrine, and strengthen coordination within its armed forces. It is no coincidence that four years later, in 2020, a 44-day war would decisively alter the balance of power in the region. If one were inclined to symbolism, one might even call it a 4+4=44 equation - four days that paved the way for forty-four. But beyond the arithmetic lies a more sobering lesson. Conflicts left to fester do not remain frozen. They evolve, harden, and eventually erupt. Today, as tensions rise across the Middle East and states like Qatar warn against attacks on critical infrastructure and the dangers of escalation, the lessons of April 2016 feel strikingly relevant. Escalation, once triggered, rarely remains contained. Miscalculations carry consequences that ripple far beyond the battlefield. The Four-Day War was a warning, the one that many chose to overlook. It exposed the fragility of illusions, the cost of complacency, and the risks of ignoring provocations until they spiral into open conflict. Above all, it demonstrated that unresolved disputes are not static; they are merely waiting for their moment. In April 2016, that moment arrived. And it changed everything. 1 April 2026 11:58 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Azerbaijan exported more than 3,300 tons of cotton yarn worth $7.3 million in JanuaryFebruary 2026, reflecting strong growth in the countrys non-oil sector, AzerNEWS reports. According to the State Customs Committee, this represents a 2.6-fold increase in value and a threefold rise in volume compared to the same period of 2025. Overall, Azerbaijan exported non-oil products worth over... Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 1 April 2026 15:09 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. In the first two months of 2026, 16 insurance companies operating in Azerbaijan collected a total of AZN 277.562 million in premiums, AzerNEWS reports, citing the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA). CBA noted that this represents a 1.3% decrease compared to the same period last year, reflecting a modest slowdown in premium growth in the sector. Despite the slight decline in premium collection, insurance payouts during January and February reached... Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! BOSTON, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Many schools across the U.S. offer robotics through a technical elective or club centered on coding, building, and competition. But in a rapidly evolving economy, more is needed. Robotics, which combines computer science, engineering, and technology to design, construct, and activate machines that are programmed to replicate human actions and decisions, can be a powerful engine for something bigger: helping students develop the skills, identity, and networks they need to access meaningful, in-demand careers. At The Possible Zone (TPZ) for example, our approach to robotics is grounded in a clear theory of change that connects hands-on STEAM learning to real-world pathways, durable skills, and a sense of agency about the future. Operating from the belief that exposure to and engagement with robotics positions young people to access opportunities, we explore ways to design learning experiences so that robotics expands beyond technical exposure and becomes a driver of human possibility. National Robotics Week is April 4-12. Meg Riordan, Ph.D., Chief Learning Officer at TPZ, shares the following five practices identify what it takes to do that with quality: Anchor Robotics in Identity-Building Experiences Designing robotics experiences that help students see themselves as creators, engineers, and problem-solvers is an important catalyst for occupational identity. At TPZ, high school students don't begin with abstract coding exercises; they begin by building and controlling systems they design themselves. In our Battle Bots course, for example, students engineer fully functional remote-controlled vehicles using motors, sensors, and programming, moving from cardboard prototypes to laser-cut or 3D-printed designs. Through cycles of designing and refining, students deepen their sense of capability, shifting from "Can I build this?" to "How can I improve this?" and ultimately to "I am someone who can design and engineer solutions." This matters because research shows that STEAM identity not just skill acquisition is a key predictor of persistence in STEAM pathways. At TPZ and schools like Winter Haven High School, students learn to be drivers of their experiences and develop skills to collaborate on teams. Robotics becomes more than assembling AI-powered cars and navigating machine learning, though it is that. More significantly, It becomes a powerful lever for identity development. Embed Robotics in Career-Connected Pathways Robotics learning is most powerful when it is explicitly connected to real industries and future careers. At TPZ, students aren't only building robots. They are engaging in work that mirrors the roles of mechanical engineers, computer engineers, and technologists. In Battle Bots, students wire circuits, program sensors, and test the performance of their vehicles, while more advanced experiences such as in the Autonomous Robots Deep Dive, they use Python, Raspberry Pi, and computer vision to build systems that respond to their environment. These experiences are paired with guest speakers, external fieldwork, and ongoing career exploration, helping students connect what they are learning to real pathways in fields like AI, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. At NuVu, an Ecological Robotics Studio course invited young people to solve challenges centered on improving water and air quality, soil erosion, or trash clean up. Robotics isn't the endpoint; rather, it is a bridge to exploring meaningful, in-demand careers. Prioritize Hands-On, Project-Based Learning with Iteration We design robotics as an iterative, project-based experience where learning happens through cycles of building, testing, failing, learning, and improving. In Battle Bots, students engage in structured play, testing, and competitions, using peer feedback and performance data to refine their code and physical designs. Iteration isn't an add-on. It's the core of our learning model and engine for building entrepreneurial spirit. This approach builds persistence, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. The goal isn't perfection, but growth over time and reflection on progress. Learning isn't about completion, it's about creating a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement. Build an Ecosystem of Industry & Community Partnerships High-quality robotics learning does not happen in isolation. At Spark Academy in Manchester, New Hampshire, students partner with the local community college and industry partner DEKA Research & Development to develop experiential robot kits. At TPZ, students also connect to a broader ecosystem of industry and community partners who bring relevance and real-world context to their work. Through behind-the-scenes site visits to partners such as the Museum of Science and Boston Dynamics, a leader in the robotics and technology sector, students gain exposure to how these skills are applied beyond the classroom. These connections potentially extend into internships and postsecondary pathways, expanding students' networks and creating a continuum from learning to earning. Access to relationships and social capital is critical. Robotics becomes a gateway to opportunity because it connects students to real people, not just robots. Integrate Durable Skills through Real Work We intentionally design Robotics to develop durable skills alongside technical expertise. Students work in teams to design, build, and troubleshoot systems, engaging in collaboration, communication, and shared problem-solving throughout the process. They participate in peer critique, present their work to authentic audiences, and often teach others how their systems function. Just as importantly, they reflect on their challenges: what didn't work, what they learned, and how they made changes. These experiences build adaptability and confidence. Employers consistently emphasize the importance of these skills, and we don't teach these separately; they're embedded in real work. Robotics is the context, but durable skills and exposure to in-demand career pathways are the outcome. Teaching Robotics and STEAM isn't about producing future engineers, but about creating the conditions where young people build skills, develop identity, and access real pathways. When designed well, these experiences connect hands-on technical learning with industry exposure, durable skills, and a sense of possibility. Students don't just learn about the future of work, they start to see themselves in it. At the Possible Zone (TPZ), we deliver on the promise of education. We advance learning through an expansive ecosystem where young people develop the skills, mindsets, and networks needed to propel their futures. High school, industry, and higher education partners help deliver career-connected experiences that expand the traditional boundaries of education. Our innovative approach levels the playing field by bringing dynamic project-based, personalized, and STEAM-focused learning experiences to high school students for whom opportunities have been disproportionately scarce. As TPZ alumni achieve economic mobility, they fuel their local region's economy and help advance the lives of others in their communities. SOURCE The Possible Zone 31 March 2026 20:50 (UTC+04:00) By AzerNEWS On March 31, Maxime Prevot, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Development Cooperation, made a telephone call to Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. During the conversation, the sides discussed the current security situation in the Middle East, bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Belgium, as well as prospects for cooperation within the European Union. The ministers expressed their deep concern over the current military escalation in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The Belgian Minister also expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan regarding the drone attack launched toward Nakhchivan from Iranian territory. Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan for facilitating the evacuation of Belgian citizens from Iran. The ministers also exchanged views on the process of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Minister Bayramov informed Prevot of the measures taken to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. The parties emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue and existing mechanisms such as political consultations, reciprocal visits, and high-level contacts for the further development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Belgium on issues of mutual interest. 1 April 2026 06:41 (UTC+04:00) AzerNEWS reports, citing Azertag that, the guest was received at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Gursel Ismayilzadeh, Head of the Department for Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Western and Central Asia at Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with other officials. Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, arrived in Azerbaijan on 1 April. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 1 April 2026 18:02 (UTC+04:00) Adylbek Kasymaliev was welcomed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev, Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov and other officials. On April 1, Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, embarked on a visit to Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 1 April 2026 19:15 (UTC+04:00) The Uzbekistani PM was welcomed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov, along with other officials. Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, embarked on a visit to Azerbaijan on April 1, AzerNEWS reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 1 April 2026 23:21 (UTC+04:00) On April 1, Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov held a telephone conversation with Portugals Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel. During the conversation, the ministers discussed the current state and prospects of AzerbaijanPortugal cooperation, as well as regional and international security issues. The Portuguese minister highlighted his countrys decision to enhance its diplomatic presence in Azerbaijan by opening an embassy. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed his gratitude for this decision. The ministers emphasized the importance of political consultation mechanisms and reciprocal visits in strengthening bilateral relations. They also reviewed opportunities to expand cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, trade, transport, and tourism. The parties also touched upon cooperation within international organizations, underlining the importance of continuing mutual support. The ministers expressed concern over rising military tensions in the Middle East and stressed the need for a diplomatic solution. They also discussed other issues of mutual interest. 1 April 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The Starlink satellite system is now being used to manage intermediate train traffic in Kazakhstan, AzerNEWS reports. This was announced by Marat Shakenov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, during a government meeting. According to Shakenov, the digital system for intermediate regulation of train movements, AIMAK RAIL, has been implemented on the small railway section between Karagaily and Kokpekty. Work on the project began in December of last year, deploying the 247 km-long Starlink satellite network to support train operations. In its first stage, the system is expected to increase capacity by up to four pairs of trains per day, and in the second stage, up to seven pairs per day. Annual cargo transportation is projected at 3 million tons in the first stage and over 5 million tons in the second. A test run of the trains is scheduled for April. Interestingly, experts suggest that integrating satellite technology like Starlink into rail systems could revolutionize logistics in remote regions, improving efficiency, safety, and real-time monitoring. Kazakhstan may become one of the first countries in Central Asia to fully leverage satellite-based traffic management for its rail network. 1 April 2026 13:54 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested that Washington should reconsider its participation in NATO, citing growing frustrations over allied support amid the ongoing confrontation with Iran, AzerNEWS reports. Rubio stated that the issue of continued U.S. membership in the alliance should be reviewed after the conclusion of military operations related to Iran. NATO is simply about us having troops in Europe to defend Europe. But when we need their helpnot their help; were not asking them to conduct air strikes, when we need them to allow us to use their military bases, their answer is no? Then why are we in NATO? You have to ask that question. Why do we have billions, hundreds of billions of dollars over the years, trillions of dollars, and all of these American forces stationed in the region, if, in our time of need, we wont be allowed to use those bases? Rubio said in an interview. The remarks come amid broader tensions between Washington and its allies following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz earlier in March. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously criticized NATO allies for declining to deploy naval forces to the strait to counter potential threats from Iran. He also appealed to key Asian economies, including China, Japan, and South Korea, but reportedly received no response. Trump subsequently warned that the United States may reconsider its security commitments, urging partners to produce their own oil and learn to defend themselves, signaling a potential shift in Washingtons global security posture. 1 April 2026 11:12 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more One person has been killed after debris from a drone intercepted by air defense systems in the United Arab Emirates fell into an agricultural area in the emirate of Al-Fujairah, AzerNEWS reports. According to an official statement shared on the emirates government social media page and cited by AzerNEWS, the victim was a foreign national identified as a citizen of Bangladesh. The incident follows a similar case on March 17, when a Pakistan citizen was killed after debris from a ballistic missile intercepted by air defense systems fell to the ground. The developments come amid escalating regional tensions linked to the ongoing confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The current crisis has its roots in the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 group, which led to the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 and the suspension of earlier sanctions on Tehran. In 2018, the United States withdrew from the deal and reimposed sanctions, prompting Iran to gradually scale back its commitments. Tensions intensified further in 2025, when UN sanctions were reinstated following disputes over Irans nuclear activities. According to a May 2025 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Irans stockpile of enriched uranium reached 9,247 kilograms, including 408 kilograms enriched above 60%. Despite multiple rounds of talks, no agreement has been reached between Washington and Tehran. The situation escalated sharply on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian targets. In response, Iran has carried out missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory and U.S. military facilities in the region, with the conflict gradually expanding across multiple Middle Eastern countries. The escalation has raised serious concerns over regional energy security and maritime transport, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. Rising tensions in the area have contributed to increased global oil prices, as Iran asserts control over the passage, allowing only selected vessels to transit. 1 April 2026 14:55 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Five people have been arrested in Armenia over an alleged election-related bribery scheme tied to RussianArmenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan and his Strong Armenia party, which has denied the accusations, AzerNEWS reports. The Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia said it had obtained factual data suggesting that a group planned to distribute electoral bribes to ensure participation in the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7 and to secure votes in favor of a specific political force. According to investigators, the scheme dates back to 2025, when an office of the Our Way NGO was opened in the town of Metsamor, located in Armavir Province. Organizers allegedly registered local residents in the NGO and tasked them with recruiting voters to support the Strong Armenia party. Authorities claim that payments were disguised as salaries and planned to be distributed in stages to conceal their purpose. Among the alleged conditions for participation were having a large family, a broad social network, and voter eligibility. The committee also accused individuals linked to the party of distributing money to residents under the guise of charitable assistance for medical expenses between February and March 2026, despite legal restrictions on such activities during the pre-election period. Law enforcement bodies reported conducting dozens of searches, leading to the arrest of five individuals and the launch of a criminal case under relevant charges. Officials also pledged continued monitoring of organizations connected to political parties to prevent electoral violations. The Strong Armenia party rejected the allegations, claiming that the evidence, including reportedly recorded phone conversations, was fabricated and that law enforcement agencies are being used as political tools by the authorities. 1 April 2026 15:38 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The United States has granted Kazakhstan an extension allowing it to continue transiting Russian pipeline crude to China until March 19, 2027, the Central Asian nations energy ministry confirmed, AzerNEWS reports. The waiver, coordinated with the US Treasury, follows the expiration of the previous license in April 2026, issued by the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), according to Interfax. The license enables Kazakhstan to continue transiting roughly 10 million tons of Russian crude annuallyabout 200,000 barrels per dayto China, the worlds largest energy consumer. Moscow and Astana are also negotiating to increase annual volumes to 12.5 million tons. The extension comes amid heightened global energy volatility caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, forcing many Asian buyers to seek alternative crude supplies at elevated prices. President Donald Trump recently indicated that the United States could withdraw from Iran within weeks, suggesting that an agreement with Tehran may not be necessary to end the conflict. His remarks temporarily pushed global oil prices below $100 per barrel, even as the regions energy supply outlook remains uncertain. The US waiver also provides relief to Russia, which would otherwise need to find alternate routes to deliver crude to China amid disruptions caused by Ukrainian drone attacks on Baltic Sea oil-export terminals. Name Change and New Visual Identity Position the Organization for Continued Growth and an Elevated Patient-Centered Experience. PLANTATION, Fla., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMatrix Infusion Pharmacy today announced its rebrand to LUX Infusion, effective April 1. Along with their new name, the organization is unveiling an updated visual identity, mission, and vision, marking a significant milestone in its evolution. Uniting Under One Vision Ted Kramm, CEO, LUX Infusion The transition to LUX Infusion is not a departure from the BioMatrix brand* legacy, but a natural evolution of its growth. The name LUX Infusion reflects the company's transformation into a fully integrated infusion services platform. It provides in-home infusion and ambulatory infusion center services to patients, while continuing to partner with providers and other business partners nationwide. "This rebrand marks an important milestone in our journey," said Ted Kramm, Chief Executive Officer. "As LUX Infusion, we are uniting our teams under one clear and shared identity and strengthening our culture. This rebrand will continue to sharpen our focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional infusion care with compassion, consistency, and excellence at every touchpoint." A defining element of LUX Infusion's vision is its flexible care model, which allows the company to meet patients where they are, providing high-quality infusions in their home or at one of its infusion center locations. From Alaska to Massachusetts, its infusion services platform enables personalized treatment experiences while maintaining close coordination with referring providers and health system partners. A New Name. The Same Trusted Care. While the name is changing, the commitment to care remains the same. Patients, providers, and healthcare partners can expect the same trusted teams, clinical expertise, responsiveness, and personal attention that have always defined the organization. With a unified brand and strategic direction, LUX Infusion is well-positioned to expand its national footprint through new locations and targeted acquisitions. The organization will continue to invest in its people, technology, and clinical capabilities to ensure patients receive high quality, coordinated infusion care wherever they receive treatment. LUX Infusion is a portfolio company of Frazier Healthcare Partners. To learn more, please visit www.luxinfusion.com and follow the company on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. *Brands include: BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy, BioMatrix Specialty Infusion, Mylyfe, LLC, Upstate HomeCare, Infucare Ltd., IV Care, LLC, First Choice Wellness Centers LLC, Total Infusion Care, LLC. About LUX Infusion LUX Infusion is elevating infusions into an experience. As a U.S. based, clinician-led infusion services company, it provides both home infusion and ambulatory infusion center services, bringing clarity, compassion, and expertise to every patient relationship. With faster therapy starts, dedicated patient support, and continuous data sharing with providers, LUX Infusion ensures patients feel supported, and providers and partners can trust in better adherence and outcomes. Media Contact: Tara Marchese Senior Director of Marketing, LUX Infusion Tel: 954-908-7636 Email: [email protected] SOURCE LUX Infusion / BioMatrix Infusion Pharmacy 1 April 2026 21:15 (UTC+04:00) by Alimat Aliyeva The recent increase in the minimum wage in the UK has impacted the salaries of approximately 2.7 million people, AzerNEWS reports. Under the new rules, the minimum hourly wage for workers aged 21 and over has risen by 50 pence to 12.71. For employees aged 18 to 20, the rate has increased by 85 pence, reaching 10.85 per hour. For those under 18 and student workers, wages have gone up by 45 pence, now standing at 8 per hour. While labor activists have welcomed the raise as a long-overdue improvement, business leaders have expressed concerns. They argue that higher wages could lead to increased operational costs, which might result in higher prices for consumers or potential staff reductions. Interestingly, economists point out that this wage boost could also stimulate spending in local economies. When millions of workers have more money in their pockets, it often translates into greater demand for goods and services, which could offset some of the costs for businesses. 1 April 2026 22:22 (UTC+04:00) by Alimat Aliyeva The American corporation Microsoft plans to invest $5.5 billion in the development of cloud technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Singapore by 2029, AzerNEWS reports. This announcement was made by the companys president and Deputy Chairman of the Board, Brad Smith. He emphasized that Microsofts ongoing investments in cloud computing and AI infrastructure reflect its long-term confidence in Singapores position as a global leader in the digital economy. As part of the initiative, all university students in Singapore will have access to the Copilot AI voice assistant and the Microsoft 365 Premium Office suite free of charge for 12 months. Additionally, the Microsoft Elevate program will offer free AI training for teachers and leaders of non-profit organizations. Industry analysts note that this move could significantly accelerate Singapores digital transformation, positioning the country as a hub for AI innovation in Asia. It also opens the door for students and professionals to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools, potentially shaping the next generation of tech leaders. A true "no kings" rally would focus on the branch of government that our founders intended to be the least powerful but it now trying to set itself as the most powerful. This massive power grab is coming from the judiciary,. particularly diisstrict court judges appointed by Obama and by Biden's autopen. Some of these upstarts seem to think that their robes should be purple, like a king, instead of black. The latest outrage from one of these politically corrupt partisan hacks has a crooked Obama judge ordering the Trump administration to honor the Biden regime's made up _OBP One App "paroles of 899,000 illegal aliens, mostly from Haiti and Venezuela.. The Trump adminsiration will now have to go through the appeal process, while these illegal aliens remain in our country. Of course, the Appeals courts have often been the adults in the room, striking down the excesses of rogue district court judges. There is no law providing for the OBP One App and Trump did away with it, but nonetheless these Democrat hack judges sill push Biden's open borders policies from the bench. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/03/obama-judge-orders-trump-restore-legal-status-hundreds/ Recognized at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions for advancing cuffless blood pressure measurement OKLAHOMA CITY, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Biozen, LLC has been named the 2026 People's Choice Winner of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Future Hub Innovation Pitch Challenge, held March 29 during the ACC Scientific Sessions in New Orleans. Being selected as the People's Choice Winner reflects recognition from ACC attendees, highlighting Biozen's approach among a global field of emerging cardiovascular technologies. Left to right: Dikran Tourian, Chief Executive Officer, Biozen; Omer Inan, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Biozen; Kenneth Civello, MD, MPH, Cardiac Electrophysiologist and Company Advisor. Biozen presented its cuffless blood pressure technology, designed to measure absolute blood pressure without the need for a cuff or calibration. Using proprietary pressure and optical sensing in conjunction with physiologically-informed algorithms, Biozen's ultra-compact BP1000 device, coupled with a companion app, directly measures blood pressure from the digital artery at the fingertip. By capturing pressure at arterial occlusion, the BP1000 delivers an absolute blood pressure measurement grounded in established physiological principles and evaluated prospectively against the clinical gold standard. "Being named the People's Choice Winner at ACC is a significant moment for our team," said Dikran Tourian, Chief Executive Officer of Biozen. "It reflects a growing focus on how blood pressure is measured and monitored, and the importance of building solutions that clinicians and consumers can trust." "ACC's Future Hub brings forward technologies that are improving existing approaches to cardiovascular care," said Omer Inan, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Biozen. "Blood pressure measurement is one of the most important tools for preventative medicine, and we believe our technology will play a central role in expanding both screening and monitoring capabilities." In addition to the Innovation Pitch Challenge, Biozen presented prospective clinical validation data at ACC evaluating its device under the ISO 81060-2:2018 validation protocol. Biozen's presence at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions and its selection as the People's Choice Winner reflect growing recognition of its approach to blood pressure measurement. About Biozen Biozen, LLC is a privately held digital health company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with research and development in Atlanta, Georgia. Biozen's cuffless blood pressure platform, protected by more than 70 granted U.S. and international patents, integrates advanced biosensors with proprietary algorithms to deliver absolute, calibration-free blood pressure readings from the fingertip. Note: The Biozen BP Sensor and BP1000 are investigational devices and are not yet cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial distribution. To learn more, visit biozen.com. Media Contact Ashley Wilson +1 405-413-5201 [email protected] SOURCE Biozen, LLC Bennington, VT (05201) Today A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. High around 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Showers early, becoming a steady rain late. Low 46F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. BENNINGTON Vermont might be the only state where a 1.1 percent school district spending increase could morph into a 13.1 percent increase, which would then be rejected by district voters. That was the situation the Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District found itself in when voters in the four-town district defeated a $33,499,825 fiscal 2027 spending plan that was up by just 1.1 percent over the current year. The district budget was defeated March 3 by 18 votes. The SVUESD board has now scheduled a revote on April 14 in member towns, and there will be an informational hearing on the spending plan April 7. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union administrative offices at 184 North Street in Bennington. This time the board reduced the districts spending increase right down to zero over this year. But because of factors in the states complex education spending formula, the revote budget of $33,128,598 would mean an estimated increase of 11.79 percent, officials said. Broken system Factors affecting the SVUESD in the states funding formula, which Superintendent Timothy Payne has termed byzantine and part of a broken statewide system -- include declining student enrollment in the district. The elementary school district has seen a 50-student decline, which when weighted for factors such as poverty are applied, equals 112 students for funding purposes. The soaring cost of providing employee health insurance also was cited as helping to drive up education costs here and statewide. The Legislature is considering changes to the education funding system, including consolidation of supervisory unions around the state and altering the make-up of funding sources that go into the state Education Fund. However, any changes will not likely affect fiscal 2027 budgets. Board outreach Payne and board members said they plan renewed outreach efforts to explain the factors driving the increase that will go before voters in the April 14 special district election. The superintendent and board members discussed factors affecting budget increases in the district and across the state during a March 24 meeting that can be viewed on the Catamount Access Television YouTube channel. Also on the April 14 ballot will be a three-year board opening representing Bennington that was not filled in the March 3 election. On March 24, the board appointed William Karis to the unexpired term after asking for letters of interest in serving. No names will appear on the election ballot for April 14, so Karis will be required to run as a write-in candidate, board members said. The boards April 7 informational meeting also can be accessed through Zoom, utilizing meeting ID:830 7986 8106 with passcode: 355476. A direct link is available on the SVSU website (www.svsu.org) which also lists call-in numbers to access by phone. Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band were not the first Tanglewood contemporary performers, but they were the first real hard-rocking act that performed under the famed pavilion. Quality local journalism needs your support Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Subscribe today. Cancel anytime. Subscribe now for 99 Subscriber Sign In | Return Home DAYTON, Ohio and BROOKFIELD, Wis., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CareSource and Community Care, Inc. (CCI) have received the necessary regulatory approvals to proceed with their affiliation, effective April 1, 2026. The two nonprofit managed care organizations announced plans to seek an affiliation in September 2024. "We are excited to welcome Community Care to the CareSource family," said Scott Markovich, EVP of Markets and Products at CareSource. "For over 45 years, Community Care has helped members with long-term care needs to live independently and thrive in their communities. Our shared commitment to exceptional service and putting people first will help us make a real difference in the lives of individuals and families throughout Wisconsin." The need for long-term care is expected to nearly double within the next five years, with almost 25 million Americans requiring these services to live safe and independent lives. The partnership between CareSource and CCI is strategically designed to address the critical long-term care needs for Wisconsinites by combining the strengths of two established, mission-driven organizations to enhance the delivery of care and improve health outcomes for individuals with complex health needs. Community Care serves more than 15,000 adults aged 55 and older, as well as those with disabilities aged 18 and older, enrolled in Wisconsin's three major long-term care programs: Family Care, Family Care Partnership, and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). It operates three certified adult day and health centers in Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha, offering home and community services, care coordination and personal care assistance. "Because of this partnership, CCI can continue to deliver high-quality, community-centered care to members," said Kenneth Munson, Community Care CEO. "We're proud to become part of a member-centered organization with a strong track record of delivering whole-person care and a commitment to innovation and operational excellence." CCI is the second organization in Wisconsin to join CareSource's family of companies. Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative affiliated with CareSource on Jan. 1, 2025, and offers individual and family health plans through the Marketplace. CareSource is committed to delivering comprehensive member-centered care to the people of Wisconsin. CCI will maintain its headquarters and employees in Wisconsin, ensuring there is no disruption to member coverage. About CareSource CareSource is a nonprofit, nationally recognized managed care organization with over two million members. CareSource administers one of the largest Medicaid managed care plans in the U.S. The organization offers health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare products. As a mission-driven organization, CareSource is transforming health care with innovative programs that address the social drivers of health, prevention and access to care. For more information, visit us at www.caresource.com, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook. About Community Care, Inc. Community Care, Inc., headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., is a private nonprofit organization that serves the long-term care and health needs of more than 15,000 older adults and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1977, Community Care is the only Wisconsin managed care organization to offer all three programs of Family Care, Family Care Partnership, and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). For more information, visit CommunityCareInc.org and follow on Facebook or LinkedIn. Media Contacts Hannah Krafka [email protected] 937.751.4862 Sherrice Harrell [email protected] 414.231.4139 SOURCE CareSource Theodore Theo Bland admitted in federal court that he killed two out-of-state drug dealers, including a Pittsfield man, in Lowell, Vermont, and stole fentanyl and crack cocaine tied to a wider trafficking conspiracy. A plea agreement calls for consecutive life sentences for Bland, who acknowledged the killings and a series of drug and firearm offenses connected to the 2023 case. NORTH ADAMS Steve was a young adult when he started "bouncing from couch to couch." "I had been in and out of jail," said Steve, who declined to use his last name for this story. "I put myself in some bad positions because I was homeless, you know?" Eight years. That was how long he spent looking for a permanent home. "I had the means to survive," he said. "I just hadn't been able to put a roof over my head." But eventually, Steve ended his endless loop of sleeping on couches through a permanent supportive housing program. "It really got my life back on track," he said. The model which provides long-term housing alongside services like counseling and benefits assistance has worked for others like Steve and has been around for decades. But as the homelessness crisis continues to grow, housing officials say the programming and the long-term stability it offers are crucial to ending the cycle of housing instability. In 2022, Massachusetts earmarked $108 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support the construction and operation of more than 1,300 permanent supportive homes statewide, which includes three in Berkshire County. That one-time pool of funding has run out, but the units still stand along with the support and opportunity for a better life they represent, according to Ethan Handelman, the executive director for Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation. "There is definitely a lot of need for this," Handelman said. "We know this is the primary tool that Massachusetts, like anywhere else, has to help respond to the challenge of homelessness." WHY IT WORKS Emergency shelters typically impose stay limits of six months, requiring people to leave after their time is up, even if they aren't ready or don't have another place to stay. A year after a person leaves an emergency shelter, they have a 17 percent chance of returning to homelessness, according to data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. That chance increases to 22 percent after two years. But the permanent supportive housing program model is different, which makes it successful, advocates say. The modern form of the program largely draws from the success that the Pathways for Housing First Institute found in New York City with its "housing-first" approach. Previous housing programs used a "treatment-first" approach. This meant people had to meet strict sobriety and mental health requirements before entering the program, which made it difficult for many to access help. The housing-first approach allows people to move into the supportive housing before turning to the underlying issues that often accompany homelessness, such as addiction and mental health. Under former President George W. Bush in the early 2000s, the housing-first ideology grew with federal support. Louison House in North Adams got funding for its first batch of permanent supportive units in 2008, becoming one of the early adopters of the program, according to Kathy Keeser, executive director for the nonprofit. Over the 10 years of Keeser's tenure, Louison House has expanded by securing more federal support and building units of its own, she said. Of those who get into a program, 95 percent still have housing a year later. Hearthway, a local nonprofit housing developer, received city and state ARPA funding to bring units to Pittsfield. The two developments were the apartments at The First and the apartments at 111 W. Housatonic St., bringing 37 units online. MORE THAN JUST A ROOM Advocates say the services provided by the program are just as important, if not more important than, the physical unit. "There's a long list of stuff that create barriers to folks functioning in today's economy," Handelman said. "If you don't have a home to go to, it's really hard to do any of those things." When Steve moved into his permanent supportive unit, there was a laundry list of things he needed to get done, such as accessing public documents needed to apply for aid. "They've helped me fill out every application I've ever needed to fill out," he said. "They helped me get my birth certificate and my Social Security card and all that." Services are brought directly to tenants, Handelman said, which can help people feel more comfortable accepting help. This connection extends to the landlord, who knows what the person is going through, allowing tenants to work with them in case of a financial or personal crisis, Keeser said. To qualify, tenants must make no more than 30 percent of the area median income. Tenants pay 30 percent of their income toward rent, meaning the most a tenant would pay per month is about $650. For tenants with no income, they pay nothing. Handelman said having a safe place to live is the foundation that allows people to succeed at work, school and in their communities. "If you're living without that, you're living every day, knowing you're at risk, your small number of belongings are at risk, the people you love, if they are with you, are at risk," he said. "It's all precarious." PART OF A COMMUNITY After completing the permanent supportive housing program, Steve moved into his own apartment, where he has lived for four years. He secured a housing voucher after a Louison House staff member alerted him that the North Adams Housing Authority was conducting its periodic Section 8 voucher review that same day an opportunity that only comes around every few months. Because they were on track with what they needed to do, they were able to get me into a permanent housing solution, he said. While Louison House has helped many tenants transition to permanent homes, Keeser said some become so stable that they are invited to remain. Jenalynne, who declined to use her last name for this story, became homeless after no longer being able to stay with a family member. "I was able to actually say that I have an apartment," she said. "My child was comfortable in the apartment ... This changed my life." So much so, that she was asked to stay in her unit because of her positive relationship with the landlords and community. The impact, Handelman said, extends beyond individual tenants. The units also provide a foundation for people to contribute to their communities whether by entering the workforce, sending children to school or simply being present as neighbors. Steve is now one of those examples. In addition to maintaining his own apartment, he has been in a five-year relationship and works periodically at Mass MoCA another opportunity that grew out of the support he received through Louison House. "I wouldn't have a roof over my head today if it wasn't for them," Steve said. "I'd still be around on the streets. And that's not a life to live. Nobody should have to go without a place to live." While Cheshire has adopted a pay as you throw system based on volume, the 600 permit holders are still heaving plenty into the 30-yard roll-off headed to Clinton County landfill in Morrisonville, N.Y. Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Jeff Robbins, a part-time resident of Stockbridge, is a former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council and a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief counsel for the Democrats on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Reach him at Jeffrey.Robbins@saul.com. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. New Research from Boston Consulting Group Finds Chief Executives May Underestimate Long-Term Risks Closely Linked to CEO Turnover AI Ranks Outside Top Five CEO Stressors More Than 70% of Top Leaders Report Clinically High Stress Levels BOSTON, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than a quarter of CEOs identify their chief financial officer as the biggest C-suite threat to their job security, according to new research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The finding comes as leaders also report facing heightened board scrutiny and clinically high stress levels. Together, these dynamics point to a broader pattern: the most acute pressures CEOs face often come from stakeholders closest to home, even as longer-term risks tied to turnover receive less attention. These findings are from BCG's inaugural CEO Insomnia Index, a global study based on a survey of approximately 500 CEOs leading companies with revenues ranging from $100 million to more than $5 billion, combined with analysis of CEO turnover data across the S&P 1200. More than 70% of CEOs report clinically high stress levels, with an average stress score of 66.7 out of 100. At the same time, 57% say near-term issues consume a disproportionate share of their time, often crowding out focus on longer-term risks and opportunities. "Balancing delivery against short-term targets with long-term growth has always been a CEO stress point," says Judith Wallenstein, a BCG managing director and senior partner and the global head of the firm's CEO Advisory. "But today they need to do it with much less time and under the watchful eye of a savvier board that feels under more scrutiny themselvesand passes this tension on to the CEO." Internal Pressures Intensify Traditional performance demands remain the most immediate sources of stress. Meeting growth targets and managing costs rank as the top concerns, and 60% of CEOs expect operating conditions to be challenging in the months ahead. At the same time, pressure from stakeholders continues to rise: Boards rank as the most stressful stakeholder group, despite high levels of reported alignment. One in three CEOs say they have more to prove to their boards than they did six months ago. Senior leadership teams are among the top three sources of stress, and the top source for CEOs of the largest companies. More than half of CEOs expect to make changes to their senior leadership teams within the next six months. These dynamics underscore the growing complexity of the CEO role, where even strong internal relationships can be sources of strain. Blind Spots Around Long-Term Risks Could Heighten Vulnerability While CEOs are highly focused on immediate performance, the research points to a potential misalignment between perceived and actual risks to their tenure. Several factors closely linked to CEO turnover rank relatively low among current stressors: Shareholder activism, which increases the likelihood of CEO turnover by 24%, ranks among the lowest concerns. While a 10% drop in employee net entry rate increases the likelihood of a CEO's exit by 12%, employee disgruntlement is not a top priority for most leaders. AI, despite rising expectations for returns, ranks ninth out of eleven stressors, with 84% of CEOs feeling more energized than stressed by the imperative to innovate. "AI pulls CEOs out of the daily performance grind by giving them the opportunity to learn something new, and to become a visionary who makes a meaningful impact on the trajectory of their company," says Jessica Apotheker, BCG's global chief marketing officer and CMO of the firm's tech build and design division, BCG X. Only 38% of CEOs report concern about employee disgruntlement, suggesting that workforce sentiment may be underappreciated as a source of risk. Loneliness, Legacy, and the Expanding Scope of Leadership Beyond operational pressures, CEOs also report significant emotional strain. Many describe the role as isolating, with responsibility for absorbing pressure from boards, employees, and other stakeholders. While 72% of CEOs express confidence that their actions will secure their long-term legacy, nearly one-third are uncertain. The findings highlight a broader challenge: CEOs must balance the urgent demands of performance with the less visible but equally critical task of managing long-term risks and organizational health. Download the publication here. Media Contact: Eric Gregoire +1 617 850 3783 [email protected] About Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholdersempowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place. SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Strictly Come Dancing professionals including Vito Coppola and Amy Dowden are among the stars who have paid tribute to Michelle Tsiakkas after the news that she has stepped down from the show. The 30-year-old made the emotional announcement on Instagram on Tuesday and said she had hoped to have more time on the BBC dancing competition. The Cyprus-born dancer also revealed that she had made the very hard decision to pull out from the upcoming Strictly: The Professionals tour. Speaking about the tour, which kicks off in May, she wrote: I was really looking forward to performing for you all and sharing the stage with my friends, but I know that right now I wouldnt have been able to give you my very best, and you deserve the best. Tsiakkas said Strictly is a show Ill always hold close to my heart, and beneath the post she wrote: A chapter ends, but a new one begins. Forever grateful for your love and support. Advertisement She was partnered with former EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick during her four-year tenure on the show. Tsiakkas also danced with Westlife star Brian McFadden for a one-off performance during last years Christmas special. Her departure comes after fellow professional dancers Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova and Luba Mushtuk announced they were leaving the show. Luba Mushtuk was the most recent dancer to leave the show (Ian West/PA) Coppola, who has been a professional dancer on Strictly since 2022, was among the stars offering their support in the comments beneath Tsiakkass post. The 33-year-old Italian wrote: We love you Mish. You are an amazing person, so talented and a beautiful soul. Proud to be your friend. Cannot wait to see you keep shining. You can always count on me, as real friendship never dies. Welsh dancer Dowden, who has been on the show since 2017, said: Sending you all the love darling. EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, who came fourth in the latest series of the show, wrote: You are such a beautiful dancer and human, Michelle. Doors will open, new opportunities will come. And, I for one will be following and supporting your journey. Sending you love, always. Other celebrities to comment included Tsiakkass Strictly co-stars, professional dancers Johannes Radebe and Nancy Xu and judge Motsi Mabuse. She was also praised in a post on the BBC Strictly Instagram page for her talent, dedication and energy during her time on the show. Advertisement Entertainment Taylor Swift pays tribute to Elizabeth Taylor with new music video Read more The broadcaster wrote: Thank you to Michelle Tsiakkas for everything she has brought to Strictly Come Dancing over the past four series. During her time on the show, Michelle has delivered some excellent performances, whether in the series group routines, alongside guest music artists, or with celebrity partners across the main series and the Christmas special whom she has always taught with professionalism, respect and kindness. Her talent, dedication and energy have been much appreciated, and everyone wishes her all the very best for what comes next. As climate risks accelerate across small island states, new Net Zero Speaks episode connects ocean governance, biodiversity, and gender equity to real-world climate adaptation and measurable net-zero policy NEW YORK, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As climate impacts intensify across small island developing states, a critical question is emerging: what does real net-zero leadership look like on the ground? Watch Net Zero Speaks with Dr. Josheena Naggea now on the Planet Classroom Network YouTube Channel Speed Speed The Planet Classroom Network, in association with the Protect Our Planet (POP) Movement, announces the release of a new episode of Net Zero Speaks featuring Dr. Josheena Naggea , Andre Hoffmann Fellow at the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions and the World Economic Forum, and a leading voice in climate adaptation, ocean governance, biodiversity conservation, and equitable coastal resilience in the Western Indian Ocean. Hosted by climate activist Monaaleekh B.K. Gowda and produced and edited by Sahana Garrett, with art direction by Emily Brooks, the episode explores how communities in Mauritius are advancing climate adaptation, marine protection, and community-led net-zero implementation. Climate Adaptation Must Be Grounded in Equity Not Rhetoric As rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather reshape coastal economies, Dr. Naggea argues that climate adaptation and net-zero policy must be rooted in justice, equity, and community leadership. "We need to reduce emissions and promote resilience in coastal communities," said Dr. Josheena Naggea. "Sustainable development needs to be thought of from local to global levels." This episode reframes net zero as accountability, not aspiration where climate policy is measured not only by targets, but by outcomes communities can experience: stronger livelihoods, protected ecosystems, and increased resilience. From Ocean Governance to Climate Implementation In a solutions-focused dialogue, the episode examines: How blue justice supports sustainable small-scale fisheries and coastal livelihoods Why ocean governance reform is essential to credible net-zero policy What climate adaptation looks like in real communitiesnot abstract frameworks How biodiversity conservation and gender equity must be integrated into climate strategies Why community-led climate action is critical to scaling net-zero implementation By positioning youth as accountability partners, the episode moves climate leadership from global ambition to measurable local action. Climate Crisis Revealed: Lessons from the Mauritius Oil Spill The episode revisits the Mauritius oil spill, when thousands of volunteers mobilized to protect their coastline exposing both environmental vulnerability and systemic inequality. "During the oil spill, thousands of volunteers came together to protect our coastline," Dr. Naggea recalls. "Following the oil spill, we highlighted inequities that women in coastal communities were facing." Dr. Naggea emphasizes that climate disasters often reveal deeper structural challenges: "Women in the informal economy often face inequities, especially after disasters." "The pandemic and the oil spill showed how important community action is in times of crisis." Through her work with the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment and the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme in Mauritius, Dr. Naggea demonstrates how local climate adaptation solutions can scale into national and global policy frameworks. Youth Accountability in the Net-Zero Era The episode reframes net zero as a question of accountability not aspiration. For host Monaaleekh B.K. Gowda, the conversation underscores a critical shift in climate leadership: "Dr. Josheena Naggea represents the intersection of global climate leadership and local community action. Her work in blue justice and ocean governance shows how sustainability must include equity for small-scale fishers and coastal communities." He adds: "That balance between international policy and local impact aligns directly with Net Zero Speaks' mission." C. M. (Cathy) Rubin, Co-Founder and CEO of Planet Classroom, adds: "Dr. Naggea's work makes clear that climate adaptation, biodiversity, and equity are inseparable from credible net-zero policy. The future of climate leadership will be defined by what is implemented not what is promised." Watch Net Zero Speaks with Dr. Josheena Naggea now on the Planet Classroom Network YouTube Channel About Net Zero Speaks Net Zero Speaks is an internationally recognized climate leadership series co-produced by Planet Classroom and the Protect Our Planet (POP) Movement. The series connects global youth climate activists with leading scientists, policymakers, and sustainability experts to examine climate adaptation, net-zero policy, biodiversity conservation, and climate accountability. By positioning youth as informed accountability partners, the series advances measurable pathways toward achieving global net-zero commitments. About Protect Our Planet (POP) Movement The Protect Our Planet (POP) Movement is a global youth climate action network advancing solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and international net-zero targets. Co-founded by the late Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri and Dr. Ash Pachauri, POP mobilizes young leaders to promote science-based climate policy and sustainable transformation worldwide. The Planet Classroom Network, produced by CMRubinWorld, is a global media ecosystem and YouTube channel uniting creators, youth leaders, educators, policymakers, and international partners. Featuring nearly 1,000 original films from more than 400 international filmmakers and curators, Planet Classroom explores climate action, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and global innovation, amplifying youth voice and measurable solutions worldwide. SOURCE Planet Classroom Network The Tanaiste has described an attempt at a proxy bomb attack on a police station in Northern Ireland as deeply chilling. Dissident republicans have been blamed for the incident, which saw a food delivery driver hijacked in Lurgan and forced to drive a crude but viable device to the Co Armagh towns police station. It has been roundly condemned by political leaders across Northern Ireland. Simon Harris said the dark history needs to be left there (PA) Police blasted it as likely to have been a sad and futile bid by dissident republicans to make themselves relevant ahead of the anniversary of the Easter Rising. The 1916 Rising is marked annually as one of the events leading to the independence of the Republic of Ireland from British rule in 1922. Tanaiste Simon Harris said Northern Irelands dark history needs to be left there. Advertisement What we have seen in Lurgan is deeply chilling and deeply concerning, and I take very seriously what the PSNI say, he told reporters outside the Oireachtas in Dublin on Wednesday morning. The dark history needs to be left just there, and it is a reminder of the fact that we can never ever let out guard down in relation to that. Inquiries into the incident are continuing. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. We have a peace process on the island of Ireland, an enduring one, an ongoing one, and this chilling event is deeply concerning. Earlier, Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said the Police Service of Northern Ireland take the ongoing risk from dissident republicans seriously. Ireland Crude but viable explosive device deployed in attack on Lurgan police station Read more She told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster programme: If they werent intent in causing harm, then they wouldnt be in those groups, its the only purpose that they serve. From our perspective, we take it seriously. I know the PSNI work very hard to keep people safe, to suppress the activities of these organisations and where they can do so, bring the people involved to justice. But we cant be complacent about the risks. The world does not have another three weeks for the de-escalation of the Iran war, the Tanaiste has said. On Wednesday morning, both Simon Harris and the Taoiseach Micheal Martin responded to comments made by US president Donald Trump overnight, suggesting the war could be over in two to three weeks. Speaking to reporters outside Government Buildings, Mr Harris said: The war is currently ongoing for about 33 days, look at the scale of damage that has been done to the worlds energy infrastructure in that period of time. We dont have another 21 days, or thereabouts, to see de-escalation. Were already living through the largest energy crisis in the history of the world, bigger than the last three combined. He added two to three weeks might sound like a relatively short period of time, but the economic and humanitarian impact would be extraordinarily concerning. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said the world doesnt have another 21 days to see de-escalation (Brian Lawless/PA) Martin said two to three weeks was too long and added: There is simply too much volatility around this war. He said the Government is pressing for as early an end to this as possible. Advertisement The sooner this ends, I think, the sooner we see de-escalation across the region, then the greater the prospect of restoring some degree of normality, although it will take a considerable degree of time. Asked if they were concerned about reports that prices at petrol pumps are rising again, despite last weeks cut to excise duty, Harris said he believed the cuts were passed on to consumers. He said: Diesel and petrol prices are still below where they were in advance of the excise cuts. So imagine how much higher they would have been had those measures not been put in place, so I do believe they were the right measures to take. Martin said the situation is very, very volatile and added the only certain way to stop prices rising is to end the war. Harris said the European Commission is working on advice and maybe a toolkit containing sensible ideas that might be offered to the public, which is expected to be made available next week. Asked if the Government would be issuing advice to citizens to work from home, the Tanaiste said the level of government advice would depend on how long the war goes on for because every day it goes on, the energy supply crisis worsens. He said measures, like those taken during the Ukrainian crisis, where lights on public buildings were not turned on at night, are under review. The Taoiseach and Tanaiste have described an attempt at a proxy bomb attack on a police station in Northern Ireland as appalling and deeply chilling. Dissident republicans have been blamed for the incident late on Monday which saw a food delivery driver hijacked in Lurgan and forced to drive a crude but viable device to the Co Armagh towns police station. It has been roundly condemned by political leaders across Northern Ireland. Simon Harris said the dark history needs to be left there (PA) Police blasted it as likely to have been a sad and futile bid by dissident republicans to make themselves relevant ahead of the anniversary of the Easter Rising. The 1916 rising is marked annually as one of the events leading to the independence of the Republic of Ireland from British rule in 1922. Taoiseach Micheal Martin told reporters on Wednesday morning he despaired at the thought of the attack. Advertisement Martin said an appalling tactic had been used, one which was witnessed before during The Troubles. At that time, he said, there were horrendous outcomes and described the plan as the product of a very degraded mind. Speaking outside Leinster House, he said: Its depressing that that type of thinking is still prevalent, and there is no room for it in our society. Our thoughts go to the PSNI community, they need our support, they need the support of everybody in Northern Ireland and on the Island of Ireland. Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris also condemned the attack (Brian Lawless/PA) As he arrived for the Cabinet meeting, Tanaiste Simon Harris said Northern Irelands dark history needs to be left there. What we have seen in Lurgan is deeply chilling and deeply concerning, and I take very seriously what the PSNI say, he told reporters outside the Oireachtas. Harris said: The dark history needs to be left just there, and it is a reminder of the fact that we can never ever let our guard down in relation to that. Inquiries into the incident are continuing (Liam McBurney/PA) We have a peace process on the island of Ireland, an enduring one, an ongoing one, and this chilling event is deeply concerning. Earlier, Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said the Police Service of Northern Ireland takes the ongoing risk from dissident republicans seriously. She told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster programme: If they werent intent in causing harm, then they wouldnt be in those groups, its the only purpose that they serve. From our perspective, we take it seriously. I know the PSNI work very hard to keep people safe, to suppress the activities of these organisations and where they can do so, bring the people involved to justice. But we cant be complacent about the risks. A Belfast man who allegedly assaulted a Ryanair cabin crew member on a Dublin to Amsterdam flight has been further remanded in custody pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Self-employed painter, Christopher Tinsley (34), with an address at the Shankill Road, is charged with assault causing harm to a male attendant on Friday's scheduled 6.25pm flight, which was aborted just before takeoff. He is accused of onboard disruption in two other charges under the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act, 1998. He was alleged to have been intoxicated to such an extent as to give rise to a reasonable apprehension that he was likely to endanger the safety of himself or the safety of others on the aircraft, and engaged in behaviour of a threatening, abusive, or insulting nature. He was held in custody with consent to bail on Saturday at Dublin District Court. Advertisement Tinsley had to lodge 500 of a 1,000 bond and provide an independent surety of 1,000, with half of the surety to be lodged in cash. However, he has not yet been able to take it up and remains in custody. He appeared again on Wednesday when Judge Aine Clancy noted that gardai needed another six weeks to obtain the directions. Defence solicitor Brian Keenan told Judge Clancy that his client has not yet taken up his bail. Tinsley, still wearing the same Angerfist top he had on at his first hearing, remains in custody. Judge Clancy directed medical treatment for the accused in custody and remanded him in continuing custody with consent to bail to appear again on April 15th at the same court. Earlier, Garda Ahmed Bilal alleged that the incident occurred as the aircraft was on the runway and "about to take off". Ireland Roads safety message issued as crash death numbers double 2025 figure Read more He said that Tinsley became disruptive, leading the pilot to turn the plane back from the runway. The flight was delayed by about two hours. Garda Bilal had opposed bail, citing flight risk, as the accused lives outside the jurisdiction. The Ballymun-based officer told the court that the victim suffered a "visible injury" to his face and provided a formal witness statement. Tinsley, who has yet to enter a plea, had agreed to abide by conditions when he takes up bail: surrender his passport, stay away from Dublin Airport, and sign on once a week at Dundalk Garda station. Previously scrapped afternoon flights between Donegal and Dublin are to be reinstated from May 1st. The flight rotation, which services cancer patients accessing treatment in Dublin, was replaced with an evening schedule under recent changes. Following public criticism, it was confirmed on Wednesday that the earlier slots and the overnight retention of an aircraft at Carrickfinn Airport will begin again in four weeks. Mary Coyle, Manager at Donegal Cancer Flights and Services, told Newstalk that it is a significant day for the community. "We have over 500 patients that rely on these flights, this is something that, not alone that the people are entitled to, but they deserve this. We werent asking for any more, or we werent asking for any less; we just wanted to retain what we had. Our voice was heard," she said. Advertisement Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said that he has been "fully committed to offering a lunchtime service between Donegal and Dublin to ensure that an effective service is provided at times that work for all those availing of the service, including critical care patients. "My Department has actively engaged with Emerald Airlines in agreeing terms for the reinstatement of the previous schedule including the aircraft overnighting in Donegal Airport," O'Brien said. The minister thanked Emerald Airlines for their "constructive engagement" in bringing the matter to a successful conclusion. Flights under the new schedule are expected to be available for booking online through www.aerlingus.com later today. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee in Kyiv today, where the pair discussed Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the European Union. It was part of McEntee's two-day visit to Ukraine, where she also attended a ceremony to mark the fourth anniversary of the liberation of Bucha from Russia. Zelenskiy thanked Ireland for the State's ongoing support for Ukraine, and highlighted the need for increased security during the EU presidency. Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2026. Alongside a video of his meeting with McEntee, Zelenskiy wrote: "We discussed with Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence, Helen McEntee, the priorities of Ireland's EU presidency in the second half of this year. For Ukraine, it is very important that the principle of opening clusters to a country that fulfills its commitments ultimately takes effect. Advertisement "I provided detailed information on the results of visits to Middle Eastern countries and on the protection system that Ukraine proposed there. We are ready to work in the same format with European partners, both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the SAFE program. In all dimensions, Europe must be protected, and Ukrainian expertise can significantly enhance security. "Thank you to Ireland for all its support: military, humanitarian, and energy-related. I am personally grateful to Helen McEntee for her participation in the Buchan Summit, which took place the day before, on the fourth anniversary of the liberation of Bucha from Russian occupiers." Iran kept up its attacks on Israel and Persian Gulf neighbours as airstrikes pounded Tehran and US President Donald Trump again made contradictory statements about whether he was ready to wind down the war or escalate it. Mr Trump struck a belligerent tone on Wednesday in a Truth Social post, demanding that Iran stop blocking the Strait of Hormuz the waterway vital to global oil supplies or the US would bomb the Islamic Republic back to the Stone Ages. A day earlier, Mr Trump said the US will not have anything to do with ensuring the security of ships passing through Hormuz. Mourners gather during a funeral procession in Tehran for Alireza Tangsiri, head of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, and others killed in Israeli strikes (AP) That was an apparent backtrack from a previous threat to attack Irans power grid if it did not open the strait by April 6. Mr Trump, who is scheduled to give a televised address on Wednesday evening, said on Tuesday he could walk away from the war in two to three weeks once he felt confident Iran would not be able to build a nuclear weapon even if Tehran does not agree to a ceasefire. Advertisement The hint of an end in sight has buoyed Wall Street the past two days. His latest Truth Social post struck a harder line as more American troops move into the region for a possible ground offensive after weeks of airstrikes targeting Iran. Mr Trump also claimed on Wednesday that Irans New Regime President wanted a ceasefire. It was not clear to whom the US president was referring since Iran still has the same president. Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, called Mr Trumps claim false and baseless, according to a report on Iranian state television. Speaking earlier to Al Jazeera, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi signalled Tehrans willingness to keep fighting. You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines, he said. We do not set any deadline for defending ourselves. (PA Graphics) Since the war began on February 28, Mr Trump has offered shifting objectives and repeatedly has said it could be over soon while also threatening to widen the conflict. Thousands of additional US troops are currently heading to the Middle East, and speculation abounds about the purpose of their deployment. Just days ago, Mr Trump threatened to attack Irans Kharg Island oil export hub. Advertisement And there has also been speculation about whether the US could decide to send in military forces to secure Irans uranium stockpile a complex and risky operation, fraught with radiation and chemical dangers, according to experts and former government officials. Adding to the confusion is what role Israel which has been bombing Iran alongside the US might play in any of these scenarios. Israeli security forces and rescue teams inspect a site struck by an Iranian missile in Bnei Brak, Israel (Oded Balilty/AP) Mr Trump has been under growing pressure to end the war as oil prices have skyrocketed, pushing up the cost of gasoline, food and other goods. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, is up more than 40% since the start of the war, though it declined slightly on Wednesday and traded at around 101 dollars (75) a barrel. The US has presented Iran with a 15-point plan aimed at bringing about a ceasefire, including a demand for the strait to be reopened and for its nuclear programme to be rolled back. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, and in a report last week by Iranian state TVs English-language broadcaster, an anonymous official was quoted as saying Iran had its own demands to end the fighting, including retaining sovereignty over the strait. In the interview with Al Jazeera, Mr Araghchi acknowledged receiving direct messages from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. To the people of the United States of America pic.twitter.com/3uAL4FZgY7 Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) April 1, 2026 He insisted, however, that there were no direct negotiations and said Iran has no faith that talks with the US could yield any results, saying the trust level is at zero. He warned against any US attempt to launch a ground offensive, saying we are waiting for them. Advertisement In a deal ostensibly to give diplomacy a chance, US officials have given clear assurances that Mr Araghchi and Irans parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf will not be targeted, according to three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter. President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on social media on Wednesday a letter addressing US citizens, saying that before the war, his country had pursued negotiations, but that the US chose to withdraw from that path. Exactly which of the American peoples interests are truly being served by this war? Was there any objective threat from Iran to justify such behaviour? Pezeshkian asked in the letter posted in English on his X account. Meanwhile, a cruise missile slammed into an oil tanker off Qatars coast on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry said. A young girl is comforted by her father and Israeli soldiers as they take cover in a bomb shelter during air raid sirens warning of incoming Iranian missile strikes in Bnei Brak (Oded Balilty/AP) The crew was evacuated and no casualties were reported. A Kuwaiti oil tanker came under attack off Dubai the day before, one of more than 20 ships attacked by Iran during the war. In the United Arab Emirates, a person was killed when he was hit by debris from an intercepted drone in Fujairah, one of the countrys seven emirates. Advertisement In Kuwait, the state-run Kuna news agency said a drone hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a large fire. Jordans military said it intercepted a ballistic missile and two drones fired from Iran in the last 24 hours. No casualties were reported. Rescue workers inspect the scene of Israeli airstrikes, in Beirut, Lebanon (Hussein Malla/AP) Two drones were also intercepted in Saudi Arabia. In Israel, sirens sounded to warn of incoming missiles and AP reporters heard loud booms in Tel Aviv as the windows of buildings shook from the reverberations. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. An airstrike on Tehran appeared to have hit the former US Embassy compound, which has been controlled by Irans Revolutionary Guard since American diplomats were held hostage there in 1979. Witnesses said buildings outside the massive compound had their windows blown out. In Lebanon, at least five people were killed in an Israeli strike on a Beirut neighbourhood. A woman sits on rubble across from a residential building damaged during a US-Israeli air campaign in Tehran, Iran (Vahid Salemi/AP) Israel invaded southern Lebanon after the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant group began launching missiles into northern Israel days after the outbreak of the war. Many Lebanese fear another prolonged military occupation. More than 1,200 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than one million displaced, according to authorities. Ten Israeli soldiers have also died there. In Iran, authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. More than two dozen people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, while 13 US service members have been killed. The family of Virginia Giuffre has strongly urged the UK's King Charles to meet with them, as well as survivors of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, during his upcoming state visit to the US. Sky Roberts, Giuffres brother, and Amanda Roberts, Giuffres sister-in-law, previously thanked Charles for standing behind survivors following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors arrest in February. In a statement to BBC Newsnight on Tuesday evening, they said they were hopeful that conversation with survivors and their families will continue to elicit decisive action from the British government against the co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles IIIs visit will come at a deeply personal time for our family, the statement said. Virginia spent her life fighting to hold these predators accountable; it is in her memory that we encourage the king to speak with us and survivors, and continue pursuing justice across the United Kingdom Family statement His arrival comes just two days after the one-year anniversary of the death of our beloved sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre. We strongly urge King Charles to meet with us and survivors and hear what we have to say. We are thankful to him for heeding our sisters allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and for his decisive action in stripping his brother from his position as a prince. Advertisement Amanda and I are hopeful that conversation with survivors and their families will continue to elicit decisive action from the British government against the co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia spent her life fighting to hold these predators accountable; it is in her memory that we encourage the king to speak with us and survivors, and continue pursuing justice across the United Kingdom. The late Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, accused Andrew of sexual abuse, which he vehemently denies. U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna wrote to the King on Monday, also calling for him to meet survivors privately during the state visit, which will take place in late April. Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell (US DoJ/PA) However, it is understood that the couple will not be able to meet survivors while there are ongoing UK police investigations into matters related to Epstein. Andrew, the former Duke of York, and Lord Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US, were arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with the paedophile financier. They have since been released under investigation. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) announced on Tuesday that the police response to the release of the so-called Epstein files by the US Department of Justice is to be stepped up. Advertisement A dedicated group will look at the scale, scope and nature of any potential UK-based VAWG (violence against women and girls) offending within the files, the NPCC added. It has also invited alleged victims of Epstein who have spoken to UK media to talk to investigators about potential crimes that may have taken place on British soil. President Donald J. Trump announces Their Majesties, the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, will visit the United States for a Historic State Visit from April 27-30th. pic.twitter.com/dMFwwNp4rI The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 31, 2026 Charles and Camillas long-expected historic trip is scheduled to proceed despite calls for it to be postponed or even cancelled because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump declared the trip will be a momentous occasion in a post on his Truth Social site, adding that there would be a beautiful Banquet Dinner at the White House on the evening of April 28. He also revealed the historic state visit will take place over four days from April 27-30, despite Buckingham Palace deciding not to release the exact dates in its own official announcement. I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!, Mr Trump added. The Palace tour announcement came on the day the Duke of Sussex was in Washington to deliver a keynote speech at the International Association of Privcy Professionals (IAPP) global summit on privacy, AI governance and cybersecurity law. Harry speaking onstage in Washington DC (IAPP/Eddie Arrossi/PA) Harry used his speech to stress the importance of safeguarding humanity as the digital world evolves, telling those in attendance: We can invest in human-centred technology led by human-centered leadership. The Kings youngest son lives on the US West Coast with his wife the Duchess of Sussex and the Kings youngest grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. But Harry will not travel to Washington DC to see his father during his stay, a source to the duke said. Charles, who is still being treated for cancer, and Harry last met face to face six months ago, and the King last saw Archie and Lili in person nearly four years ago. When a hiker fell from a 180ft waterfall in wild New Zealand bush, rescuers were forced to evacuate the badly hurt woman without her dog, which could not be found. After strangers raised thousands of dollars for a search, border collie Molly was flown to safety by a helicopter pilot who was determined to reunite pet and owner. A week earlier, an emergency rescue helicopter found the woman with bruises and lacerations after a fall at a rocky spot at the waterfall on the South Islands west coast. She was airlifted on March 24 but they were forced to leave without her pet. Molly was bedraggled and hungry when she was found on Tuesday, just a few yards from the spot where the hiker had been lucky to survive. Molly is collected from the edge of a waterfall (Precision Helicopters Ltd/AP) I contacted her in hospital and said Id go for a look for it, said Matt Newton, the owner-operator of Precision Helicopters New Zealand, which is based at Hokitika Gorge near the Arahura River where Molly went missing. I went and looked for the dog several times and no avail. Advertisement Unwilling to give up, Mr Newton and his family launched a fundraiser to pay for more flying hours and advanced search gear. Offers of help and donations poured in, with strangers pledging more than 11,000 New Zealand dollars (4,800) for a search. It was enough to fund three more hours in a helicopter using thermal imaging equipment. On Tuesday, Mr Newton took to the skies with a veterinary nurse, volunteer searchers and a dog named Bingo in a renewed search for Molly. We struck jackpot within about an hour, he said. As we made our way up the river, we could see the dog in the thermal and then we could visually see it. The helicopter dropped low enough for a volunteer to disembark with the rescue dog Bingo to help coax Molly to safety and keep her calm. Molly is reunited with her owner Jessica Johnston (Precision Helicopters Ltd/AP) Mr Newton thought the dog had survived by eating feral animals during her week in the wilderness. She knew what we were up to, I think, he said. She behaved real well. She didnt run away and she was pleased to be rescued. The dog was in surprisingly good condition the pilot said. He sent word back to the helicopter base, where other volunteers waited to take turns in the search. Instead we just had a big barbecue and all had a cuddle with Molly. Hours after the dogs rescue, her owner, still battered from her fall, arrived for a tearful reunion. I think thatll speed up her healing process somewhat, Mr Newton said. Having your dog back, thats for sure. Iran has hit a tanker off the coast of Qatar and Kuwait International Airport as Tehran remained unrelenting in its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbours. It also acknowledged for the first time that Washington had been in direct contact about a possible ceasefire. Israel sounded warnings of incoming fire from both Yemen and Iran, while launching its own attacks in Lebanon that killed at least five people. An air strike on Tehran appeared to have hit the former US embassy compound, which has been controlled by Irans Revolutionary Guard since the 1979 hostage crisis. Witnesses said buildings outside the massive compound had their windows blown out and that it appears the strike happened inside the walled facility. With no sign of the war abating and more than 3,000 lives already lost, US President Donald Trump suggested it could be over within two weeks even as he moved to bring thousands more troops to the region. (PA Graphics) Mr Trump has been under growing pressure to end the war as Irans grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and its attacks on regional energy infrastructure have sent gas prices skyrocketing to their highest level since 2022 and caused broad stock market fluctuations. Iran throttled ship traffic through the strait, which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, after it was attacked by the US and Israel on February 28. Advertisement In peacetime, a fifth of the worlds oil transits the strait and the spot price of Brent crude, the international standard, is up more than 40% since the start of the war, trading at more than 104 dollars a barrel. The US has presented Iran with a 15-point plan aimed at bringing about a ceasefire, which includes a demand for the strait to be reopened. Irans own five-point response includes it retaining sovereignty over the waterway, and Mr Trump on Tuesday suggested that the war could be brought to an end even with Iran still controlling the strait. Rescue workers check the site of Israeli air strikes in Beirut, Lebanon (Hussein Malla/AP) He said the US will not have anything to do with what happens in the Strait of Hormuz, instead telling reporters that the responsibility for keeping the vital waterway open would belong with countries that rely on it. Thats not for us. Thatll be for France. Thatll be for whoevers using the strait, Mr Trump said. It was not clear why Mr Trump brought up France, since Europe receives very little oil shipped through the strait, with most going to Asian countries. The president plans a prime-time address on Wednesday. Advertisement Mr Trump, who has vacillated between insisting there is progress in diplomatic talks with Iran and threatening to widen the war, added that the US is finishing the job in Iran and predicted it will be maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer to do the job. Mr Trump has warned that if a ceasefire is not reached shortly, and if the strait is not reopened, the US would broaden its offensive, including by attacking the Kharg Island oil export hub and possibly desalination plants. Firefighters try to extinguish a blaze at a damaged workshop struck by an Iranian missile in Petah Tikva, Israel (Oded Balilty/AP) Thousands of marines and paratroopers have been ordered to the region in possible preparation for an assault in Kharg, though to reach the island by ship would mean transiting the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, which Iran has threatened to mine. In an interview with broadcaster Al Jazeera, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged receiving direct messages from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. He insisted, however, that there were no direct negotiations and said Iran has no faith that talks with the US could yield any results, saying the trust level is at zero. He warned against any attempt to launch a ground offensive, saying we are waiting for them. We know very well how to defend ourselves, Mr Araghchi said. The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies. Their intentions are clear. What they've gotten wrong is that they're not dealing with defenseless Palestinian civilians. Our Powerful Armed Forces will severely punish aggressors. pic.twitter.com/wh2FZUldR7 Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 31, 2026 Qatar was attacked with three cruise missiles early in the day, the Defence Ministry said. The countrys defences intercepted two but the third slammed into an oil tanker off the coast, the Defence Ministry said. Advertisement The 21-member crew of the tanker, contracted by state-owned QatarEnergy, were evacuated and no casualties were reported. A fully-loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker came under attack off Dubai the day before, one of more than 20 ships attacked by Iran during the war. In the United Arab Emirates, a person was killed when a drone was intercepted and debris hit him while he was working on a farm in Fujairah, one of the countrys seven emirates. Bahrain sounded two alerts for incoming missiles, and said an Iranian attack had caused a fire at a business facility. In Kuwait, the state-run KUNA news agency said a drone had hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a large fire that crews were working to control. Two drones were also intercepted in Saudi Arabia, which has come under repeated Iranian attack, and air raid sirens sounded in Israel though there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. In Iran, Israel said it had hit a plant producing fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, to allegedly be used in a chemical weapons programme. Iran acknowledged the strike on Tofigh Daru factory, but insisted it only supplied hospital drugs used for medical purposes. The strike happened on Tuesday, both the Israelis and the Iranians said. (PA Graphics) Hospitals extensively use fentanyl to treat severe pain. But a small amount of the drug can be fatal. Both Israel and the United States have alleged in recent years that Iran was experimenting with fentanyl in munitions. Advertisement In Beirut, at least five people were killed in an Israeli strike on a Beirut neighbourhood. Lebanons Health Ministry said another 21 people were wounded. Israel invaded southern Lebanon after the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant group began launching missiles into northern Israel days after the outbreak of the wider war. Many Lebanese fear another prolonged military occupation. More than 1,200 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than one million displaced, according to authorities. Ten Israeli soldiers have also died there. In Iran, authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. Since the Iran war began, 13 US service members have been killed and 348 wounded, six seriously, according to US Central Command. More than two dozen people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank. Momentum Builds with Second Organizing Win Under DFA Neutrality Agreement WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 120 workers at a fluid milk plant owned by Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) in Winston-Salem, N.C., have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 391. "This victory showed what's possible when workers look out for one another and refuse to settle for less," said Rick Armstrong, President of Local 391. "This group stayed focused, built real unity, and took control of their future. We're ready to stand with them as they negotiate a strong first contract." Workers at the North Carolina facility process and package PET milk for distribution across the region. The milk products are known throughout the Carolinas and Virginia for their high quality and standards set by the production, lab, shipping, and maintenance workers. "These workers made their choice without interference, and they chose to join the Teamsters," said Jesse Case, Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division. "DFA honored the neutrality agreement in Winston-Salem. It's time for other food processing giants, including Nestle, to ditch their union-busting playbook and respect their workforce." The victory marks the second organizing win under the Teamsters' national neutrality agreement with the dairy co-op. "The Teamsters have put working people first and have been doing so since 1903," said Shaquan Long, a sanitation worker at the PET fluid plant. "My co-workers and I felt it was time for us to join the Teamsters to help us secure better wages, health insurance, and bring equality back to the workplace." Teamsters Local 391 represents workers in North Carolina across industries, including dairy processing, warehousing, and distribution. For more information, go to teamsterslocal391.com. Contact: Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279 [email protected] SOURCE Teamsters Local 391 Pope Leo XIV has expressed hopes that the US-Israel war on Iran could be finished before Easter. The US-born pontiff made the remarks to reporters as he left the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo outside of Rome on Tuesday. Im told that president Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war, Leo said. The pontiff spoke to journalists as he left his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome (AP) I hope that hes looking for an off-ramp. Hopefully hes looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred thats being created, thats increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere. Leo called on all world leaders to return to dialogue and look for ways to reduce the amount of violence, so that peace, especially at Easter, might reign in our hearts. At the beginning of Holy Week, our prayers are more than ever with the Christians of the #MiddleEast, who are suffering the consequences of a brutal conflict and, in many cases, are unable to observe fully the liturgies of these holy days. Just as the Church contemplates the Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) March 29, 2026 The Popes remarks came during Holy Week, the most sacred period of the year for Christians. It should be the holiest time of the year. It is a time of peace, a time of reflection. But as we all know, again, in the world, in many places we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children, Leo said. Advertisement We constantly make the call for peace, but unfortunately, many people want to promote hatred, violence, war. On Palm Sunday, the pontiff said God does not listen to the prayers of those who make war or cite God to justify their violence, as he prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East during Mass in St Peters Square. Let us #PrayTogether for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer. #PrayerIntention @clicktopray_en https://t.co/S3TtsnBEer Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) March 31, 2026 Leaders on all sides of the Iran war have used religion to justify their actions. US officials, especially US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, have invoked their Christian faith to cast the war as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might. Russias Orthodox Church, too, has justified Russias invasion of Ukraine as a holy war against a Western world it considers has fallen into evil. As Holy Week continues, Leo will carry out the Holy Thursday foot-washing tradition in the basilica of St John Lateran, where popes have performed it for decades. Holy Week is the most sacred period in the Christian calendar (AP) On Friday, Leo is due to preside over the Good Friday procession at Romes Colosseum commemorating Christs Passion and crucifixion, and will carry the cross himself. Saturday brings the late night Easter Vigil, during which Leo will baptize new Catholics, followed a few hours later by Easter Sunday when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. Leo will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in St Peters Square and then deliver his Easter blessing from the loggia of the basilica. Prosecutors are providing early investigative advice to the police as they carry out their inquiries into Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors links to Jeffrey Epstein, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said. The former British prince, and Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US, were arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with the paedophile financier. They have since been released under investigation. We can confirm that we are now providing early investigative advice to the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the forces investigation into a 72-year-old man and will continue to liaise as requested, a CPS spokesperson said on Wednesday. We can now also confirm that we are providing early investigative advice to Thames Valley Police in relation to a 66-year-old man. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office (Jordan Pettitt/PA) We remain ready to support any investigation if needed. This comes after it was confirmed that the British kings state visit to the US to see Donald Trump is to go ahead next month as planned. Advertisement Charles and the British queens long-expected historic trip will take place in late April despite calls for it to be postponed or even cancelled because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It is understood that Charles and Camilla will not be able to meet with victims while there are ongoing UK police investigations into matters related to Epstein. US congressman Ro Khanna wrote to Charles on Monday to call for him to meet survivors privately during the state visit. In a statement to BBC Newsnight on Tuesday evening, the family of Virginia Giuffre also strongly urged Charles to meet with them, as well as survivors of the paedophile financier. But at a press conference on Wednesday, Keir Starmer declined to say whether there was a moral case for the British king to meet the victims when asked by reporters. The British Prime Minister instead insisted the focus of the visit will be on the 250th anniversary of American independence. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) also announced on Tuesday that the police response to the release of the so-called Epstein files by the US Department of Justice is to be stepped up. A dedicated group will look at the scale, scope and nature of any potential UK-based VAWG (violence against women and girls) offending within the files, the NPCC added. It has also invited alleged victims of Epstein who have spoken to UK media to talk to investigators about potential crimes that may have taken place on British soil. Keir Starmer has insisted Labours manifesto red lines on closer relations with Europe remain, as he signalled the UK government will seek stronger ties with the EU in light of the Iran wars global impact. The UK prime minister said the volatile international situation caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Tehran meant Britains long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union. UK and EU negotiators are due to meet this summer to discuss closer ties on food standards and emissions, as well as a youth mobility scheme. But Starmer suggested a closer security and economic partnership with the European Union was also needed in light of the Iran oil crisis. (PA Graphics) Speaking at a Wednesday morning Downing Street press conference to address the cost-of-living spike caused by the war, Starmer was pressed by reporters whether he now planned to abandon Labours manifesto commitments on negotiating closer ties with the EU. At the UK general election, the party promised to not seek a customs union, to re-join the single market, or establish freedom of movement as part of closer ties with the bloc. Advertisement The prime minister told reporters: The manifesto commitments remain, but we made it clear in the manifesto that we wanted a closer relationship with Europe, so that is perfectly consistent with our manifesto. Starmer has previously said he will neither prioritise Europe or the US, stressing that a strong relationship with both is necessary for the UK. He insisted this had not changed, despite signs his personal relationship with US president Donald Trump appears to have deteriorated. US president Donald Trump and prime minister Sir Keir Starmers relationship has appeared to deteriorate (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) The prime minister said: Im not going to choose because I think it is in our interest to have a strong relationship with the US and with Europe. But I do think that when it comes to defence and security, energy emissions, and the economy, we need a stronger relationship with Europe. I actually think that will help strengthen our relationship with the US, because successive presidents have said that Europe needs to do more on their defence and security. The prime minister had earlier told the press conference that he would seek to guide our country calmly through this storm, adding: However, it is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union. Brexit did deep damage to our economy, Starmer said, adding that the opportunities to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living are simply too big to ignore. Advertisement The prime minister said this years summit with the EU will not just be used to ratify existing commitments made at last years summit. He added: We want to be more ambitious. Closer economic co-operation, closer security co-operation, a partnership that recognises our shared values, our shared interest and our shared future. A partnership for the dangerous world that we must navigate together, a world where this Government will be guided at all times by the interests of the British people. Best for Britain, a campaign group which calls for closer relations with the EU, said Starmer was entirely right to seek far closer co-operation with our European allies and friends amid Trumps devastating Iran war. Naomi Smith, the groups chief executive, said: Ministers should and must go even further and faster on rebuilding those crucial ties, as independent economic research shows that the economic growth the British people need is only sparked by deeper alignment across all industrial and service sectors. Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel meanwhile claimed the prime minister was desperate for someone or something to blame for the terrible failings he has overseen, and has his sights set on Brexit. She added: But its his own Government that has sent the cost of living up, leaving families 1,000 worse off this year. Labours tax hikes and net-zero zealotry are causing misery for hardworking people while those on welfare get a bonus courtesy of Rachel Reeves. Rather than trying to reopen the old wounds of the Brexit years, Starmer should focus on fixing the mess he has created. Only the Conservatives will Get Britain Drilling, get bills down and cut taxes. Iran hit an oil tanker off the coast of Qatar and Kuwaits airport on Wednesday, while air strikes battered Tehran even as US President Donald Trump said he was nearly ready to wind down the war and claimed that Irans president wanted a ceasefire. Iran had no immediate response to Mr Trumps claim on social media that Irans New Regime President was seeking a ceasefire, which he said would only happen once the Strait of Hormuz was open, free, clear. It was not immediately clear to whom Mr Trump was referring in Iran, which still has the same president. Irans foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, called Mr Trumps claim false and baseless, according to a report on Iranian state television. Mr Trump, who will address the nation later in the day, said he could walk away from the war in two to three weeks once he felt confident Iran would not be able to build a nuclear weapon even if Tehran does not agree to a ceasefire. That raised the possibility that the US could withdraw without any guarantee from Iran that it would stop bombing its Gulf Arab neighbours or release its grip on the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Advertisement A fifth of the worlds traded oil passes through the strait in peacetime and Tehrans stranglehold, with its strikes on energy infrastructure in the region, has caused oil prices to skyrocket, with far-reaching consequences for the global economy. Even if the strait were to reopen quickly, some effects like higher food prices could persist for months or longer. It is also not clear what Israel, which began bombing Iran with the US on February 28, would do if the US pulls out without a deal. U.S. Navy fighter jets prepare for a combat flight during Operation Epic Fury. To date, U.S. forces have flown over 12,000 combat flights directly supporting Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com/QKmUN2I8Ny U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 1, 2026 It also leaves open the question of what Iran might do with the highly enriched uranium still in its stockpiles. Mr Trumps comments offered another mixed signal from the American leader who has offered shifting objectives for the war and repeatedly said it could be over soon while also threatening to widen the conflict. Thousands of additional US troops are heading to the Middle East, and there is much speculation about the purpose of their deployment. Just days ago, Mr Trump warned that the US would attack Irans power plants if Tehran did not reopen the strait by April 6. He has also threatened to attack Irans Kharg Island oil export hub and possibly desalination plants. But on Tuesday he said the US will not have anything to do with ensuring the security of ships passing through Hormuz. (PA Graphics) Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi signalled Tehrans willingness to keep fighting. You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines, he said. We do not set any deadline for defending ourselves. Advertisement Mr Trump has been under growing pressure to end the war as oil prices have skyrocketed, pushing up the cost of petrol, food and other goods. The spot price of Brent crude, the international standard, was up more than 40% since the start of the war, trading at more than 103 dollars a barrel on Wednesday. The US has presented Iran with a 15-point plan to bring about a ceasefire, including a demand for the strait to be reopened and for is nuclear programme to be rolled back. Plumes of smoke after debris from an intercepted Iranian drone hit an oil facility, according to authorities, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (Altaf Qadri/AP) Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful. Its own five-point response includes retaining sovereignty over the strait. In the interview with Al Jazeera, Mr Araghchi acknowledged receiving direct messages from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. He said, however, that there were no direct negotiations and said Iran has no faith that talks with the US could yield any results, saying the trust level is at zero. He warned against any US attempt to launch a ground offensive, saying we are waiting for them. A cruise missile hit an oil tanker off Qatars coast on Wednesday, the defence ministry said. The 21-member crew of the tanker, contracted by state-owned QatarEnergy, was evacuated and no casualties were reported. The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies. Their intentions are clear. What they've gotten wrong is that they're not dealing with defenseless Palestinian civilians. Our Powerful Armed Forces will severely punish aggressors. pic.twitter.com/wh2FZUldR7 Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 31, 2026 A fully-loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker came under attack off Dubai the day before, one of more than 20 ships attacked by Iran during the war. In the United Arab Emirates, a man was killed when he was hit by debris from an intercepted drone in Fujairah, one of the countrys seven emirates. Advertisement Bahrain sounded two alerts for incoming missiles, and Kuwaits state-run Kuna news agency said a drone hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a large fire. Two drones were also intercepted in Saudi Arabia, and air raid sirens sounded in Israel though there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. An airstrike on Tehran, meanwhile, appeared to have hit the former US embassy compound, which has been controlled by Irans Revolutionary Guard since American diplomats were held hostage there in 1979. Witnesses said buildings outside the massive compound had their windows blown out and that it appears the strike happened inside the walled facility. Women from the Iranian Red Crescent Society in front of a thick plume of smoke from a strike on an oil storage facility in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) Israel also said it hit a plant in Iran producing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. Israel and the US have alleged in recent years that Iran was experimenting with using fentanyl in chemical weapons. Iran acknowledged a strike on Tuesday on Tofigh Daru factory, but said it only supplied hospital drugs. Hospitals use fentanyl to treat severe pain but it can also be fatal. Advertisement In Lebanon, at least five people were killed in an Israeli strike on a Beirut neighbourhood. Israel invaded southern Lebanon after the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant group began launching missiles into northern Israel days after the outbreak of the war. Many Lebanese fear another prolonged military occupation. More than 1,200 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than one million displaced, according to authorities. Ten Israeli soldiers have also died there. In Iran, authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. More than two dozen people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, while 13 US service members have been killed. President Donald Trump said securing the Strait of Hormuz is not for us and estimated that the US will be done attacking Iran in two to three weeks. Trump said the US will not have anything to do with what happens in the strait, instead telling reporters that the responsibility for keeping the vital waterway open will rest with countries that rely on it. The president said there is no reason for us to do this. (PA Graphics) Thats not for us. Thatll be for France. Thatll be for whoevers using the strait, Mr Trump said. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump lashed out at US allies such as the United Kingdom and France for not doing more to support the American efforts in the Iran war. Youll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. wont be there to help you anymore, just like you werent there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil! he wrote. Advertisement He singled out France for not letting planes fly over French territory while taking military supplies to Israel. Spain, which has emerged as Europes loudest critic of the war, said on Monday that it had closed its airspace for US planes involved in the conflict. The White House said the president would deliver a prime-time address on Wednesday evening to update the public on the war. Firefighters try to extinguish a fire at a damaged workshop struck by an Iranian missile in Petah Tikva, Israel. Photo: AP Photo/Oded Balilty. Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has acknowledged receiving direct messages from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. In an interview with Al Jazeera aired late on Tuesday, he said: I receive messages from Witkoff directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations. We do not have any faith that negotiations with the US will yield any results. The trust level is at zero. Asked about a possible ground offensive by the US, Mr Araghchi said we are waiting for them. We know very well how to defend ourselves, he told the Qatar-based broadcaster. In a ground war, we can do it even better. We are completely ready to confront any sort of ground attack. We hope they do not make such a mistake. Israel said early on Wednesday it struck a plant supplying Irans theocracy with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, to allegedly use in a chemical weapons programme. Iran acknowledged the strike on Tofigh Daru factory, but insisted it only supplied hospital drugs used in medical operations. The strike happened on Tuesday, both the Israelis and the Iranians said. Advertisement Mr Araghchi posted a picture of the factory in Tehran, writing on X: The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies. The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies. Their intentions are clear. What they've gotten wrong is that they're not dealing with defenseless Palestinian civilians. Our Powerful Armed Forces will severely punish aggressors. pic.twitter.com/wh2FZUldR7 Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 31, 2026 The Israeli military said early on Wednesday that it had killed a senior Hezbollah commander and another senior leader in two separate strikes in the Beirut area. Military officials said they launched strikes targeting what they described as Hezbollah infrastructure in the Lebanese capital. Defence minister Israel Katz said Israel plans to control the area south of the Litani River, 20 miles north of the border. Israel invaded southern Lebanon after Hezbollah began launching missiles into northern Israel days after the outbreak of the wider war. Many Lebanese fear another prolonged military occupation. Two people were killed and three were injured very early on Wednesday when a strike hit a car in the Khaldeh area south of the capital, Lebanons health ministry said. A drone attack by Iran and its allies hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a fire, authorities said. The state-run KUNA news agency said the attack early on Wednesday sparked a large fire at the airport. It said there were no immediate injuries from the attack and firefighters were working to control the blaze. Rescue workers check the site of Israeli airstrikes, in Beirut, Lebanon, early on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Elsewhere, the United Arab Emirates has barred Iranians from entering or transiting the country as the war rages, three major airlines said. The long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, as well as the lower-cost airline FlyDubai, made the announcements on Wednesday on their websites. A tanker came under attack off the coast of Qatar early Wednesday, authorities said. Advertisement The British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre announced the attack happened, saying a projectile slammed into the side of the ship. It said no environmental damage was done and the tankers crew was safe. On Tuesday, a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker came under attack off Dubai. Over 20 ships across the Persian Gulf have been attacked by Iran since the war began. Early on Wednesday morning, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted and destroyed two drones in the previous hours. In Iran, authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. Two dozen people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank. In Lebanon, officials said more than 1,200 people have been killed, and more than 1 million displaced. 10 Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon, including four announced on Tuesday. Nasas first manned Moon mission in more than 50 years, which will take astronauts deeper into space than any human has gone before has blasted off. The 322-foot rocket, carrying four crew members, successfully launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 6:36pm local time (11:36pm Irish time). The four astronauts reached orbit ahead of circling the Earth for about 25 hours before catapulting towards the moon, their flight tracked from Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall. Five minutes into the flight, Commander Reid Wiseman said: We have a beautiful moonrise, were headed right at it. The elite team had entered the capsule several hours earlier where they will remain for the next 10 days with about as much room as a small camper van. Prior to them boarding, more than 700,000 gallons of fuel (2.6 million litres) was loaded into the spacecraft. Advertisement As they headed to the launch pad, the three Americans and one Canadian waved and shaped their hands into hearts to well-wishers. Commander Wiseman shouted to the crowd: Its a great day for us. Its a great day for this team. Signal acquired! Engineers at @NASAJPL have confirmed that the Orion spacecraft is communicating with the Deep Space Network. For the first time in over 50 years, were receiving a signal from a spacecraft carrying humans toward the Moon. pic.twitter.com/PoqyF7s7W8 NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) April 2, 2026 The flight experienced a minor disruption when Mission Control briefly lost its communication link during a satellite handover, but the problem was fixed by resetting ground equipment. During a post-launch press conference, Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman said the crew were safe, theyre secure and in great spirits. After a brief 54 year intermission, Nasa is back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon. he said. After reaching high orbit around the Earth, the crew practised steering the capsule close to within 10 metres (33 feet) of the rockets detached upper stage. One early issue was the capsules toilet shutting down after being activated. The so-called lunar flyby around the Moon will send the crew some 252,000 miles (406,000 kilometres) into space before returning to Earth. The current record for the furthest spaceflight is about 248,000 miles, held by members of the Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970, which was hit by technical problems. Nasas Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Centres Launch Pad39-B (Chris OMeara/AP) As they pass approximately 4,600 miles beyond the far side of the Moon, the Orion module will lose communication with the Earth for up to 50 minutes. While the astronauts will not touch down on the satellite, the Artemis II mission paves the way for a future lunar landing and also lays the foundation to send a crew to Mars. Advertisement The mission previously had to be postponed by two months because of hydrogen fuel leaks and clogged helium lines. The last time Nasa sent astronauts to the Moon was as part of the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Nasa is seeking to return a crew to the lunar surface by 2028, before China does in about 2030. Hailing the mission ahead of the launch, US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: We are WINNING, in Space, on Earth, and everywhere in between Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close! America doesnt just compete, we DOMINATE, and the whole World is watching. Astronauts, from left, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada,, Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch pose for a photo after leaving the Operations and Checkout Building (Chris OMeara/AP) God bless our incredible Astronauts, God bless NASA, and God bless the Greatest Nation ever to exist, the United States of America! President DONALD J. TRUMP. Advertisement BusinessCompaniesMedia & marketing A growing crisis coming to a screen near you Calum Jaspan April 1, 2026 1:27pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Advertisement Advertisement Scott Morrison addressed the nation once at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alex Ellinghausen Television viewership has declined since 2020, at which time 61 per cent of Australians watched live, free-to-air TV at least once a week, according to a recent report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority. That figure now stands at 52 per cent, equal to user-generated or short-form digital videos. Related Article Middle East at war The fuel crisis is hitting Australia hard. Heres what the country is doing in response For five years straight, paid subscription streaming services have been the most common form of viewing for Australians, watched on average by 68 per cent of Australians each week. The ABC, which is the national emergency broadcaster, will air the footage at 7pm on both its main channel, with the 7pm bulletin following, and broadcasting it on its news channel. It will also be broadcast on its NewsRadio service, the capital city stations and main ABC YouTube channel. Advertisement The end of Nines news bulletins will lead into the address, with A Current Affair host Ali Langdon to then be joined by political editor Charles Croucher for analysis. On Seven, all programming will be pushed back by 30 minutes, meaning the address will be broadcast in an extended news bulletin lasting until 7.30pm. In 2020, Morrison similarly told the public we all have a role to play, with markets responding, dropping sharply and delivering the ASX its largest hit since the global financial crisis. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. Advertisement Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Dateline banks $50M as institutions back California gold Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Rowena Duckworth April 1, 2026 11:41am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Sydney-based Dateline Resources has completed a $50 million placement to leading institutional investors, with more than 95 per cent of the funds raised from financial institutions. That level of participation appears to speak to the quality of the Colosseum gold project and the strength of the companys development strategy. Equipment laydown area and other works at Dateline Resources Colosseum gold project in California. The raise, priced at $0.40 per share and managed by Shaw and Partners as lead manager and bookrunner, brings Datelines total cash holdings to approximately $96 million - a substantial war chest for a company that is now firmly in the transition phase from developer to producer. Colosseum is a 1.1-million-ounce gold project in Californias Walker Lane Trend, with independently assessed project economics showing a net present value of US$550 (A$800) million and an internal rate of return of 61 per cent. Advertisement Were pushing ahead on multiple fronts to make sure the project is ready to move into production quickly. Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi Enabling works are already underway on site. Civil earthworks, infrastructure preparation and equipment laydown are all progressing well and Dateline says the bankable feasibility study (BFS) is on track for completion this month. The cash is being channelled into a tightly defined game plan pushing ahead with site development, locking in critical processing infrastructure, wrapping up final optimisation work and, importantly, building the equity backbone needed to unlock future project finance. Raising fresh equity at this moment in time looks to be a savvy corporate move, allowing the company to arrive at the project financing table in a position of strength rather than scrambling to pull the pieces together under time pressure. Dateline is also taking the time to sort out key elements early, especially water management. Handling such matters properly now will most certainly pay dividends for the operation and the environment over the long term. Advertisement Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi said: This raise drew strong support from high-quality institutional investors, a clear endorsement of what Colosseum represents. Were not standing still. Enabling works are already underway and were pushing ahead on multiple fronts to make sure the project is ready to move into production quickly when the time comes. There is also a broader strategic dimension to the raise. The company is progressing with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration in the United States - a process that would open up the company to the deep pool of American institutional capital and retail investors. Ernst & Young has been appointed as the international auditor, and the companys accounts have been restated to US GAAP standards. For a company with all its projects in California, a US listing pathway makes considerable strategic sense, particularly in the current environment where American investors are actively seeking domestic gold and critical minerals exposure. Beyond Colosseum, the funds will also support continued exploration at the Music Valley heavy rare earths project, which sits in the same suburb as the Mountain Pass mine, currently the only significant rare earths operation of scale in the United States. However, in contrast to Mountain Pass, Music Valley hosts heavy rare earth elements (HREE) such as dysprosium, terbium and yttrium, which are considered even more strategically critical than the light rare earths that dominate Mountain Pass production. As China currently controls the vast majority of global HREE supply, any credible HREE discovery in a stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction like California is a compelling proposition and Music Valley looks set to put Dateline firmly at that table. Advertisement With three rigs now active across the companys flagship California portfolio, the news flow pipeline looks busy for the months ahead. Dateline has $96 million in cash, an imminent BFS, initial civil works underway, and institutional investors firmly in the tent. The company appears to be entering what could be its most consequential chapter yet. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Bulls N' Bears Shares Sharemarket Advertisement Petrol prices in Australias biggest cities began falling on Wednesday as retailers moved unexpectedly early to pass on the federal governments 26-a-litre excise cut in part or in full, even before most sites had depleted existing stocks and bought new fuel at cheaper prices. In Melbourne, the average price of unleaded fell 16 a litre from nearly $2.60 a litre on Tuesday to $2.43 a litre by Wednesday morning, figures show. Service stations across Sydney had cut average prices by about 13 to $2.44 a litre. A Shell petrol station in Croydon was selling the cheapest diesel in Sydney on Wednesday at $2.889 per litre. Sitthixay Ditthavong Steeper cuts were recorded in other parts of the country: prices fell 15 in Brisbane and 18 in Hobart on average. Adelaide led the nation with the sharpest fall, cutting prices by 25 to $2.34 a litre, while Perth had the smallest decline of 7 a litre to a citywide average of $2.44. Advertisement The Albanese government this week announced a temporary halving of the fuel excise a flat tax that adds 52.6 a litre to the cost of petrol and diesel to help ease cost-of-living pressures on households caused by the war in the Middle East. Related Article Petrol prices The charts that show how the oil shock is worsening and hitting motorists In the month since the first US and Israeli attacks on Iran, attacks on oilfields and Irans de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have paralysed up to one-fifth of the worlds supply of crude oil the natural resource that is refined into petrol, diesel and aviation fuel and sent prices soaring to record levels across Australia. While the 50 per cent excise cut kicked in on Wednesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers earlier this week said that the saving could take up to a fortnight to fully work its way through the fuel network. However, some retailers made the call to start selling their higher-taxed stock at the discounted prices, choosing to take a short-term hit to their bottom line that could be offset once the excise returned to normal. Advertisement Viva Energy, which runs Australias Shell, Liberty Oil, Reddy Express and OTR petrol station chains, said it had immediately passed on the full 26 excise reduction, sending prices at many of its metropolitan outlets below $2.30 a litre. Loading The cuts flowed through this morning when our stores were opening, Viva chief executive Scott Wyatt said. In the end, the decision was an easy one, he said. We were keen to see the relief provided by the federal government passed on as quickly as possible ... to help people get on and enjoy their [Easter] holiday. Ampol also confirmed it had decided to pass on the 50 per cent excise reduction in full across its 1800 outlets. These rates came into effect [on Wednesday morning] and are already in place at many of our sites, with the reduction to be applied across our entire company-owned Ampol Foodary network progressively throughout the day, a spokesperson said. Advertisement Related Article Updated Middle East at war Thats not for us: Trump prepared to exit Iran with Strait of Hormuz still closed BP said it had reflected the excise cut in its pricing decisions. Price data showed many BP sites in Melbourne and Sydney selling unleaded below the $2.30-a-litre mark. Diesel prices across Australia have increased more sharply than petrol, a major concern for many critically important industries that depend on the fuel, such as transport, agriculture and mining. The average price of diesel also fell significantly by Wednesday morning, the figures compiled by the National Roads and Motorists Association showed. The average price in Sydney is down more than 11 a litre, and more than 15 in Melbourne. The new capital-city price snapshot from NRMA made clear that some operators had opted to pass on excise cuts immediately. Advertisement Based on these prices, people will start to feel relief today, NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said. Photo: Matt Golding However, the figures were citywide averages only, meaning lower fuel prices will not yet be reflected at every service station, Khoury added. If you pull up at your local servo, and you havent seen a cut yet, they arent doing anything wrong, he said. They are waiting until they stock their tanks at the cheaper rates and that could take days or weeks, depending on where the servo is located and how many customers they have. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the fuel price cuts were welcome news, but said motorists should not increase their consumption. Advertisement We continue to remind Australians to buy what you need no more, and no less so that no one else has to go without, Bowen said. The threat of fuel shortages and price spikes caused by the Iran war has ignited panic buying across the country. Service station operators said fuel theft had risen between 10 and 50 per cent, depending on the location. Motorists have been hoarding fuel for weeks, with many rushing to fill jerry cans and spurring a doubling of demand in many locations, causing hundreds of service stations to run out of at least one type of fuel, particularly in regional areas. In the early days of the conflict, the rush on demand was worsened by some of Australias biggest industrial users of diesel in the mining, agriculture and transport sectors, which also scrambled to fill their huge private fuel tanks, draining fuel from the spot market and leaving independent service stations without their usual supply lines. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning. The report finds that 690,000 family caregivers of adults contribute 620 million hours of care annually, work that would be valued at $9.4 billion per year if paid in the marketplace. JACKSON, Miss., March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mississippi family caregivers now provide $9.4 billion worth of labor each year, according to a new AARP report. Most of this work is unpaid, yet it forms the backbone of the nation's long-term care system that is essential to helping millions of older adults live independently at home. Why this matters: Without family caregivers, many more Mississippians would rely on expensive institutional care, driving significantly higher costs for taxpayers and public programs. "Family caregivers are a major economic force that fill critical gaps in our health care system," said AARP Mississippi State Director Kimberly L. Campbell, Esq. "The economic value they provide now exceeds $9.4 billion annually, yet this care often comes at significant cost to caregivers' health and financial security, and well-being. AARP is elevating this important issue and fighting to save family caregivers time and money." Key findings from the report Valuing the Invaluable 2026 include: 690,000 Mississippians are caregivers of adults, providing care for older parents, spouses, neighbors, and other loved ones, contributing 620 million hours of care annually, work that would be valued at $9.4 billion per year if paid in the marketplace, based on a value of $15.16 per hour. Across states, the estimated value of caregiving ranges from $14.12 per hour in Louisiana to $27.05 per hour in Washington, reflecting regional differences in wages and the cost of care. National Findings: 59 million Americans are caregivers of adults, providing care for older parents, spouses, neighbors, and other loved ones, contributing 49.5 billion hours of care annually, work that would be valued at $1.01 trillion per year if paid in the marketplace, based on a value of $20.41 per hour. The 49.5 billion hours of care provided each year is the equivalent of nearly 24 million full-time workers, roughly 17% of the entire U.S. full-time workforce. The value of family caregiving exceeds total federal, state, and local Medicaid spending nationwide, and almost doubles all out-of-pocket health care spending. Caregiving has become more demanding and complex as chronic illnesses rise and more care shifts into homes: Family caregivers are spending more time providing care, averaging 27 hours each week. More than half, 57%, now provide high-intensity care meaning; they spend more hours helping with daily tasks like bathing and dressing as well as complex medical and nursing tasks like wound care and administering injections. Read the full report here. AARP continues federal and state advocacy to save caregivers money, time, and get them the support they deserve. AARP also helps families navigate caregiving challenges by connecting them to trusted resources. AARP Mississippi's resource guide helps family caregivers access key programs, services and agencies right in their community . Additionally, through its partnership with United Way Worldwide, caregivers can access local support services in 28 states by calling 211, including help finding in-home care, respite care, transportation, and other essential services. To find out more, visit www.aarp.org/caregiving. About AARP AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the 125 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest-circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org, aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPLatino and @AARPadvocates on social media. MEDIA CONTACT: Ronda Gooden, 601-898-5417 601-209-1812 (cell) SOURCE AARP Mississippi Twenty years after she began writing her candid memoir, the eldest daughter of John Brack and Helen Maudsley is ready to reveal hidden family truths. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A John Brack was a giant of Australian art, best-known for his 1955 painting Collins St. 5p.m., a bleak depiction of grim-faced office workers marching to their evening commute in central Melbourne. He stopped painting in 1994, supposedly because he had said all that he wanted to say. This was the official line; the truth was something else. As Clara Brack, the firstborn of his four daughters, reveals in her new book, The Secret Landscapes, John stopped because he had dementia from alcoholism. The brush would slip from his hand and his thoughts from reality. He died in 1999, aged 78. None of us would ever speak of Dad being an alcoholic, Clara tells me when I visit her at her art-filled home in Melbournes inner west. Its the power of what must not be spoken. Clara Brack at home with a version of her fathers First Daughter. Simon Schluter Clara is at last claiming her right to speak, to tell the complex story of growing up as the child of two major Australian artists, John Brack and Helen Maudsley. In doing so, shes defying her mothers edict that the private is private, and her fathers taunts of choice: fathead, dope and dill. She began working on the book 20 years ago, letting it gestate until it felt ready for publication. She had also planned to wait until after her mothers death. But Im going to be 77 in a couple of weeks, and Mum happens to be still alive at nearly 99, and I thought, you know, Im entitled to have my own voice. Subtitled On Not Pleasing Your Mother, a quote from American journalist Janet Malcolm, the book promises candour and delivers it in spare, understated prose. Its not just Clara who displeases her mother. A succession of ruptures takes place: John upsets his mother by becoming an artist, and Helen upsets hers by marrying an older, lower-class man whos an artist to boot. The consequences are lasting. Advertisement Secrets form the backbone of Claras delicate and disturbing book; for her parents, her grandparents and herself. Her own secret relates to a childhood trauma involving a stranger that until now she has shared only with her writing group. Even so, she prefers not to detail the incident in a newspaper article. She would rather the reader learn about it within the pages of the book. John Brack, Collins St, 5p.m., 1955, oil on canvas. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased, 1956. National Gallery of Victoria Were sitting in Claras study on tall-backed chairs that curve around the body. They were designed by another famed creative couple, Grant and Mary Featherston, for Montreals Expo 67. These Talking Chairs were a gift from Helen for Claras 21st birthday. They are lovingly worn in. Their cocooning backs feel fitting for a discussion that delves deeply into family dynamics. Artist John Brack in 1983. John Lamb Books are piled on the floor of Claras study, more on shelves, the name John Brack visible on many a spine. Related Article Exhibitions New faces, old struggles: Why we need to listen to these young artists Not so the name Helen Maudsley, as her body of work has never been treated to a book of its own. Helens artworks are notoriously obscure, labyrinthine accumulations of symbols and signs with cryptic titles that hint at the paintings meanings. One gruffly mocks those who would seek the code to her works: Whats the Code There is no Code, it reads in part. Advertisement Helens unusual palette was similarly uncompromising; she had a penchant for mauves, lilacs and dusky pinks. These same colours are echoed throughout Claras charming weatherboard home its the most adventurously painted house in this tranquil suburban street. Above Claras writing desk is a row of Renaissance-like frescoes, ethereal landscapes with softly draped swaths of fabric floating above these soft, mysterious works by Melbourne artist Sarah Tomasetti are far removed from her parents paintings. One of them features on the cover of Claras book. Another defiance? Helen had dismissed one of the frescoes in typically blunt fashion, declaring it doesnt have any conflict in it. The cover of Clara Bracks The Secret Landscapes features an artwork by Sarah Tomasetti. The book includes just one of her parents paintings: Johns The Beach, from 1949, which he destroyed in a pique of anger after being overlooked for a travelling scholarship that he had counted on winning. John and Helen were nothing if not intense. They were disciplined, studious and detested the idea of the artist as bohemian, particularly all that Heide nonsense as Helen put it when I interviewed her many years ago. Mum and Dad never performed as the artist, Clara says. They didnt wear a beret and do that look at me, Im an artist that was one common aspect between them, they both saw the discipline of the artist as paramount. Helen Maudsley with some of her works inside her studio in 2017. Selina Ou Advertisement Growing up in their midst was not easy; they were exacting on themselves and their children. The household was rule-bound, Clara says. You would never ever be late we would never go into Mums painting room or Dads studio. You wouldnt interrupt the important man. He wasnt to be bothered. Initially, Clara was prompted to write her book to dispel other peoples fantasies of the artist, and to show that talent was but a tiny part of the deal, that being an artist was laborious and lonely work. But as she kept writing, another story emerged, a story in which she could find peace with her parents, and herself. I didnt want the book to be a sort of dumping ground, she says. She conceived a device that would ground the book in compassion, inventing an alternative ending for John and Helen. In effect, she sends them both off to therapy, creating fictionalised dialogues that draw on reality. The result is a clever hybrid; part memoir, part biography, part social and art history, and reads like a novel. Related Article Visual art How five generations of Boyd women shaped an artistic dynasty What I really tried to do in this book was to make it accessible, Clara says. I used to teach adults returning to study and I wanted to write something where somebody who hadnt got a university degree, or somebody who hadnt read lots of books, could understand what I was saying. So, although its informed by theories, I didnt want any sort of theory in the book itself. Advertisement The book is divided into two sections. My father comes first, as Clara concedes to starting with the artist that the reader will know. My mother follows, the artist who was in many ways overlooked, subsumed by her role as mother and wife. Dad was not supportive of Mums work at all, Clara says. Her job was to be the artists wife, and she was incredibly dutiful about doing that job. Somehow, between doing all the cooking, all the housework, sewing and knitting most of her childrens clothes, Helen found time to paint. This is an extraordinary achievement, and while Claras book doesnt shy away from describing her mothers emotional distance, particularly at moments of crisis, she agrees that the book is a homage to Helen. But she would just say, thats what you had to do. When John developed dementia Helen cared for him at home for three years, painting when he napped. When he was later moved into hospital, Helen visited him every day. Clara imagines what might have been had her father sought help for his drinking rather than hiding it, burying his whisky bottles in the backyard, or stashing them in the sheet cupboard. She gives him a catalyst that she borrows from another artist, Barry Humphries, whom Brack famously painted in the character of Edna Everage. Humphries gave up drinking in the 1970s after being found bashed and unconscious in a gutter in Melbourne. In Claras reimagining of Johns life, he too is found drunk in a gutter, and reluctantly responds to the wake-up call. Through dramatised sessions with a therapist, we learn of Johns lower-class beginnings, his fractious relationship with his mother, who looked to her son to pull the family out of poverty, his six years in the army, his struggle to become an artist in defiance of his mother, his depression, and his self-loathing, which he projected onto his wife and children. As we learn about Johns inner workings, so too we learn about his paintings. Advertisement Advertisement CultureMoviesDC Universe Its no show without punch: Australias Supergirl soars in new trailer Michael Idato April 1, 2026 7:47am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Australian actress Milly Alcock soars out of the new Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow trailer in full flight, a high-kicking, fast-running action heroine who may yet turn the highly anticipated Superman spin-off into the action blockbuster of the year. This is a high-octane reboot of the Supergirl character, who has, for much of her comic book history, been a well-behaved simulacrum of her higher-profile cousin. For local audiences, its a double whammy: in addition to Alcock, the films director Craig Gillespie is also an Aussie. You think youre having a bad hair day? Milly Alcock as Supergirl in the trailer for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. We have met Supergirl before: back in the 1984 movie, played by Helen Slater, and in the recent TV series (2015-2021), played by Melissa Benoist. Alcocks Supergirl also made a cameo appearance in Superman (2025), but this is the time weve seen her in detail. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which will be released in June, is thematically on-brand. Find your place in the universe, is the thread in the trailer, which sits well with the foundation of the Superman mythology: an orphan boy stranded on an alien world. Those themes recur in Supergirl, and in the wider canon of many comic book mythologies. Advertisement The trailer sets up the story: Ruthye (Eve Ridley) is in pursuit of her fathers killer when she crosses paths with Supergirl. Revenge, it wont take your pain away, Supergirl warns her. But the killer space pirate Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) shoots Krypto the Superdog with a poisoned dart, forcing Supergirl and Ruthye to pursue him for the antidote. The verdict? The trailer is sharp and inventive, and leans heavily into the films action sequences. But it also delves into the layers of a character who, perhaps for the first time, is wholly realised in three dimensions strengths and flaws, in equal measure and makes a solid pitch for the film as a companion piece to James Gunns brilliant 2025 reboot Superman. Loading Who is Supergirl? Kara Zor-El is the cousin of Kal-El, the Kryptonian orphan better known as Superman, alias Clark Kent, the mild-mannered reporter for The Daily Planet in the fictional Earth city of Metropolis. The character was created by Otto Binder and designed by Al Plastino, first appearing in Action Comics #252, published in 1959, in a story titled The Supergirl from Krypton. Advertisement Karas father, Zor-El, is the brother of Supermans father, Jor-El. Kara was raised in Argo City, a fragment of the destroyed planet of Krypton; when it also faces doom, she is loaded onto an escape capsule by her parents, Zor-El and Alura. And like all comic book characters, there is a very classic take on Supergirl, which is not the character you will meet in this movie. Ana Nogueiras script is more directly adapted from the 2021-22 comic book miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. In it, we meet a slightly messier, modern update of Supergirl. The edges are smudged, and she carries her pain and loss in a very different way to her cousin. More on that presently. Superman (David Corenswet) is in the new film In the 1984 movie Supergirl, that eras Superman was reduced to a poster behind a door, and an affecting riff on the John Williams Superman March. In the new movie, at least hes walking and talking. Advertisement You know, Im just worried youre not going to find your stride here, if you keep going off-world all the time, Kara, Kal-El says. Im worried youre not going to find your people. Supergirl replies: Thats the thing, Clark, I have no people. Superman (David Corenswet) in a scene from the trailer of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. We get to see Supergirls origin story The key difference is that Kara is sent out of the imploding Argo City as a teenage girl, and not a child, as Kal-El was, when his parents Jor-El and Lara sent him to Earth in the final hours of Krypton. Advertisement That sets up the two characters as distorted mirrors of one another: Superman is a well-adjusted, Earth-sensible, square-jawed hero. His trauma is just an echo that seems well reconciled to the upbringing that Smallville residents Jonathan and Martha Kent gave him on Earth. Kara, in contrast, is the product of a substantially more recent trauma and shows all the signs. When we met her in Superman, even just for a glimpse, she was all reckless trouble and hectic energy, preferring off-world drinking binges to a more serious, settled Earth life. This is one scene-stealing pooch. Krypto the Superdog in the trailer for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. This isnt your mums (or your dads, or your gay uncles) Supergirl Supergirls super-suit gets a prominent showing in the trailer, which is a nice touch in an era where those old-fashioned touches are sometimes eschewed for edgy, more contemporary looks. But make no mistake, this is an edgy, more contemporary Supergirl. Advertisement It also sets up the heart of the artistic dilemma of Superman-universe stories: its tough to shake the unchanging, idealistic tone of the characters, particularly in an era where comic books have expanded from Batman and Captain Marvel to Invincible and The Watchmen. Helen Slaters Supergirl was inoffensive to the point of being anodyne, but endures in the culture largely because of affection for Slaters performance, rather than for the film itself. The 1984 Supergirl was unduly burdened with a bad script, poorly realised characters and a belief that the brand could make up any shortfall in the story. Editor's pick Film Surprises, franchises and sequels: 10 new films that prove cinema is not dead Slater is, nonetheless, the antecedent Supergirl, much as we cannot really interpret Gal Gadots Wonder Woman, without understanding Lynda Carters Wonder Woman, and the multitude of things that the first iteration did, to set up the second. But this Supergirl is far more contemporary, and empowered with a more character-defining story, which explores her as a damaged variant of Superman, rather than an innocent, wide-eyed mirror of him. Throw in Alcocks energetic performance, and you have a Supergirl who is, indeed, the Woman of Tomorrow. Advertisement Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be released in cinemas in Australia on June 25. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A For most of the past 30 years, documentarian Louis Theroux has been delving into the lives of disgraced celebrities, white supremacists, fanatics and a ragtag of oddballs at the fringes of mainstream society. His subjects range from the flamboyant tiger king Joe Exotic and paedophile Jimmy Savile, to everyday people who have lost control of their lives, from fundamentalists in the backwaters of America to Zionists spearheading the illegal settler movement in the West Bank. Hes carried this off with a style that is both distinctive and idiosyncratic, casting himself as an awkward, nerdy interlocutor who gently prises his way into his subjects lives and secrets. He seems endlessly curious and empathetic about people and the worlds they inhabit, regardless of how offensive, troubling or unconventional their views and vocations might be. His purpose is to better understand what makes them tick and to portray them not as exhibits of a freakshow though some end up doing this for themselves but as products of a world that isnt always fair, just or equitable. Nico Balinthazy (Sneako) and Louis Theroux, in Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere. Netflix Unlike many in the business, hes not beyond scrutinising his own journalistic and ethical practices, often returning to people and topics for follow-up documentaries that revise or correct the record. Editor's pick Streaming I took a perverse delight in it: David Berry on Outlanders other great love story Inside the Manosphere, his most recent work, was seen as something of a departure for the now 55-year-old. Made for Netflix after a career almost entirely based at the BBC, it explored a handful of young, male social media figures who have forged vast audiences, and even vaster fortunes, promoting dangerous ideas about masculinity and gender roles. Manosphere may well have broadened his profile and following, but its subjects and themes are Therouxs wheelhouse. HStikkytokky, Myron Gaines and Sneako being but the latest in a gallery of delusional individuals peddling and practicing dubious lifestyles and ideologies in exchange for money and influence. Netflix, did you say? For anyone whos followed Therouxs career, there may be a twinge of irony here. One of Therouxs most notable films was made following 2020s Tiger King, until recently Netflixs biggest show of all time, and raised critical questions about how it distorted a soon-to-be-convicted felon into a misunderstood folk hero worthy even of a presidential pardon. Advertisement But as this survey of Therouxs best films reveals, their relevance and the pleasure of watching them is not restricted to news cycles or passing fads. They invite us to consider hot-button topics in ways we might not otherwise have done. Louis and the Brothel (2003, Stan*) The first of more than 30 one-hour specials Theroux made for the BBC has him visiting a new legal brothel in Nevada. Cue Benny Hill-like titters, but theres nothing of the kind as he uncovers the backstories of Wild Horse Ranchs workers, owners and customers. Everyone in Louis Therouxs universe has a story to tell, and none more so than sex-worker Hayley, who engages in a pas de deux with the filmmaker that puts both in an awkward ethical corner. Its more lighthearted than his later films, but doesnt shy away from the moral complexities and bizarre transactions that underpin sex work. Louis Theroux in the follow-up documentary Surviving Americas Most Hated Family. The Most Hated Family in America (2007, Stan) It takes a few mental leaps to understand the grievances of Kansas Westboro Baptist Church, which shot to prominence staging protests at the funerals of American marines killed in the line of duty. Theirs is a particularly odious and angry brand of homophobia and racism, sheeting blame for all the wrongs of the world at anyone and everyone who would even dare to contemplate the idea of tolerance. But its the way the cults families indoctrinate their children that prompts Theroux to engage in some eviscerating confrontations. Two follow-up films explore the dissolution of one of the churchs key families. Advertisement Louis Theroux in LA Stories, in which he followed sex offenders released from jail. LA Stories (2014, Stan) Comprising three self-contained episodes (not all of which are on local streamers), Among the Sex Offenders explores Therouxs enduring interest in the notion of second chances and rehabilitation. Here, Theroux spends time with a handful of men and women who, having been convicted of sex offences and paroled, negotiate life on the fringes of LA society where their rights are curtailed and movements monitored. Arguably the most challenging and confronting film Theroux has made, this is lump-in-the-throat viewing. Louis Theroux with Jimmy Savile in the original 2000 documentary When Louis Met Jimmy. Savile (2016, Stan) When the dark deeds of once-beloved TV personality Jimmy Savile surfaced following his death in 2011, it was often said that he had been hiding in plain sight. Indeed, when Theroux made his first film about Savile in 2000, he only alluded to the strange behaviour he witnessed. Sixteen years later and drawing extensively on the earlier material, Theroux seeks to understand what he missed and what he could have done to expose Saviles heinous crimes. Savile is more than a reckoning with one mans paedophilia; it goes to the very heart of how people in positions of power, esteem and wealth can project an aura of invulnerability to insulate and protect themselves. Louis Theroux with Carole and Howard Baskin at Big Cat Rescue in Florida. Advertisement 1 / 2 French brasserie, Wunderbar in Hobart. Supplied 2 / 2 Outside the venue. Supplied Previous Slide Next Slide Wunderbar French$$$$ Dont be fooled by the name: the most German thing about this suave new all-day bar and restaurant is chef and co-owner Julian Volkmer. French is the main play, and the menu du jour jumps from tartines and croque monsieurs to French-onion soup and gnocchi Parisienne, to fish with beurre blanc and ratatouille and steak frites. Rustic exposed brick is a feature in the dining room, flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows. Want to visit this venue? Save it in the Good Food app. Petrol prices across Sydney dropping following petrol excise cut Some petrol prices across Sydney are already appearing to fall after the governments call for a petrol excise cut. Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Police shot a man they said was armed with a large knife north of Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon. Officers attended Akebia Street in Arana Hills about 12.30pm for a welfare check on the 19-year-old, which had been called in by his mother. Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said two male and one female officers spoke to the man for some time, before he allegedly pulled out a kitchen knife and was shot twice by one of the male officers. Loading He has been shot twice in the abdomen, Massingham said. Advertisement NationalVictoriaEducation The Melbourne private schools still taking year 7 enrolments for 2027 Jackson Graham April 1, 2026 2:33pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A Girls are more likely to find places at Melbournes in-demand schools than boys in 2027, as parents begin confirming their childrens places for next years school intake. Of Melbournes private schools with fees of $30,000 or more a year, parents have seven all boys schools to choose from, while there are more than a dozen girls-only schools in the high-fee bracket. There are also at least 10 coeducational high-fee schools. The smaller number of boys schools means parents generally can only secure a place at a private boys or co-ed school if they apply to have their son accepted years in advance. Mentone Girls Grammar year 7 students Chloe Cooper, Layla Stanef, Alisha Malla and Claire Guan with principal Lauren Perfect. Luis Enrique Ascui Boys are much harder to place than girls, said Paul OShannassy of Regent Consulting, which helps match families with suitable schools. Advertisement Many families put their children down as soon as they are born, often at multiple schools, but OShannassy pointed out capacity can fluctuate with birth rates, the economy and school reputations at the time. Melbourne Grammar headmaster Philip Grutzner said the school receives applications for year 7 from birth. However, applications could be received up to the time of a place being offered, which varied from one to three years out from commencement. While the school encourages families considering year 7 entry to submit an application as early as possible, applications are received and considered from a range of ages and stages. All-girls schools such as Methodist Ladies College also require parents to put girls on the waiting list years in advance, with the school currently contacting families for 2029 and offering places. We are seeing very strong demand across all our major intake years, with applications typically received several years in advance, and waiting lists are currently in place for the coming years, said MLC community engagement director Aimee Suchard-Lowe. Advertisement The school is non-selective, meaning it doesnt enrol students based on academic achievement, and most families are placed on the waiting list in the order of their application data. Families connected to the college, such as siblings of current students, daughters and nieces of alumnae and children of staff, receive an adjustment to their position on the waitlist, equivalent to up to two years, Suchard-Lowe said. For girls, OShannassy said enrolments were generally more difficult to secure at co-ed schools, but the opportunities are far greater for girls at both girls schools and co-ed schools. Mentone Girls Grammar principal Lauren Perfect said the school currently had availability for its year 7 intake for 2027, but there would be a wait list beyond the middle of the year when the school determined how many classes it would offer. Advertisement The girls school is located in a competitive pocket, with a nearby private co-ed school, a girls secondary college, a Catholic all-boys school and several other private schools all in the Bayside area. Its an all-girls environment all the way from three-year-old kindergarten up to year 12, Perfect said of how the school distinguished itself from others. We know that research demonstrates time and time again that girls who learn in an all-girls environment feel a greater sense of self-confidence, have a greater sense of ambition and belief in themselves in what they can achieve, and they experience unrivalled opportunity. One area of growth has been the schools early learning centre, which has had double the number of inquiries in the past year compared with the year before. Perfect said this followed child safety concerns in the sector. Advertisement Related Article Exclusive Education Missed the boat: Why the race for private school spots now starts in primary Families who visit and are with us there talk about that sense of calm in the early learning centre as opposed to some other centres. Many high-fee co-ed schools also have waiting lists for several years ahead. However, some low- and mid-fee private schools have limited availability ahead of 2027. Southern Cross Grammar where fees are $12,400 for year 7 has two student places available before it reaches its limits for next year and applicants are put on a waiting list. Progressive school Cornish College near Carrum charges $22,665 for year 7 and expects enrolments for next year to be full in the coming weeks. The primary and secondary co-ed school, which is located on 40 acres of parkland, has grown by about 150 students in the past decade, but principal Nicola Forrest said further growth would be limited. Advertisement We dont believe in exponential growth, we dont believe thats what the world needs, whether that be in nature or anywhere else, she said. She encouraged families to apply to the waiting list given a handful of students do not commence for reasons such as parents relocating for work. The school has a legal exemption to select students to fulfil its gender ratios. [In] some year levels, the 60 per cent is girls, and others its boys, Forrest said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. A Bunbury grandfather and businessman has been found guilty of smuggling heroin into Australia after a trial in Sydney heard how he was promised over $18 million to transport a camp bed into the country that was stuffed full of drugs. Barry James Calverley, 70, told a Sydney jury last week that he had no idea that he was smuggling drugs through customs when he agreed to transport the package on a flight from Laos in south-east Asia in January 2024. Barry Calverley moments before he boarded a flight to Sydney carrying 5kg of heroin. Facebook Calverley, a mining consultant, father of three and grandfather, often travelled for work and told the jury he had previously been scammed out of $250,000 that led him to become depressed and caused problems in his marriage. When he received an email out of the blue promising him millions in exchange for signing some documents in Laos, he thought it may have been some sort of compensation from the scammers. Advertisement The WA government will ask WA Governor Chris Dawson to declare a state of emergency to give Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson extraordinary powers to compel fuel suppliers to cough up sensitive information about fuel stocks and supply chains. Premier Roger Cook and Sanderson travelled to Government House on Wednesday to request that Dawson make the declaration as described in the Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act. WA Premier Roger Cook addressing the media on Wednesday. Hamish Hastie The extraordinary powers, which have never been used, can only be unlocked if the governor declares a state of emergency under section 43 of that act. Cook played down the terminology used in the act and said it was not a state of emergency like the one declared during COVID-19 under the Emergency Management Act. Advertisement Let me be very clear, we are not declaring a state of emergency. We are utilising the emergency powers under the Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act, he said. This is not what people experienced under COVID. Its a completely different act of Parliament. Its very specific powers which we need in order to create some transparency around fuel supply chains. Parliament will be reconvened on April 14 in the middle of a six-week break to ratify the emergency powers, but they will take effect from midnight on Thursday morning. Cook wrote to suppliers including BP, Viva and Ampol on Friday, calling on them to share information, including their total fuel holdings, where they have sent fuel to since the beginning of the Iran war, and the contracts they have signed until June. The deadline for that information was on Tuesday and Cook said they had not received all the information they required. Advertisement Weve had a lot of success, fuel is flowing to places where we are experiencing shortages. However, challenges remain. Particularly in the Goldfields and the Wheatbelt, he said. Unfortunately, our efforts are being hampered by not having the full visibility of the fuel supply chain. We arent getting the full transparency that we need. Three of six companies that received the letter did not respond formally. Cook said some companies had legal advice that they could not provide that information, and the enactment of extra powers would see that advice superseded. Advertisement Related Article Updated Middle East at war The months ahead may not be easy: PM urges Australians to save fuel, catch bus The state will use the information to better direct fuel to the areas it needs to go. Sanderson said if companies failed to comply, significant penalties of up to $100,000 a day would apply. She said the information would be used to identify towns struggling with fuel supply. Itll allow us to identify those singular towns that are challenged and those regions that are challenged, particularly in the Goldfields, and ensure that they have the fuel that they need, she said. Advertisement Itll give us visibility in the future. I think this is an important part of preparing us for further shocks or further challenges with the supply chain, and gives us clearer visibility of how we manage this going forward. With US President Donald Trump flagging he would pull out of the Iran war within three weeks Cook was asked whether he could rely on those public statements for his governments decision-making on fuel. No, we cant rely on we cant rely on what you see around the world at the moment, we cannot predict this situation. Its a global conflict. Well, its a conflict in the Middle East with global implications, he said. We were obviously encouraged by the idea that the conflict will be over soon, but of course, its done significant damage to the global supply chain, so it will be a while before we can also we can say that were in the all clear. Chamber of Minerals and Energy chief executive Aaron Morey said the move to use extraordinary powers was a good thing for decision-making by the government. Advertisement Morey said the chamber was confident in the coming weeks and months that his members would continue to receive their contracted supplies of fuel, noting most companies had between seven and 12 days of fuel in storage on sites. From the start of this week, WA adopted the national fuel security plan system, which is currently at level two. Level two suggests fuel supply is OK, but there are localised disruptions. According to the Prime Ministers website, level two suggests that consumers only buy the fuel they need and make voluntary choices to use less fuel to avoid higher fuel prices. At a state level, it urged state governments to use laws to get information and data from fuel importers and distributors and improve freight efficiency as well as monitor and report on fuel station supplies. Advertisement Level three suggests that the ongoing fuel supply will be disrupted, and governments will call for reduced use of fuel to ensure major industries can continue operating. This includes a directive that all state governments look for practical measures to help reduce fuel use. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Statewide Practice Expands Clinical Team in Manatee County FORT MYERS, Fla., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) welcomes board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist Nikita Jain, MD to the statewide practice. Dr. Jain will provide care to patients at the FCS Bradenton Cancer Center at 3630 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205. Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute Welcomes Nikita Jain, MD to Practice David Wenk, MD, FCS assistant managing physician, said, "Dr. Jain's clinical expertise, paired with her focus on precision medicine and patient-centered care, strengthens our ability to deliver advanced, individualized treatment options to patients in Manatee County. Her collaborative approach and commitment to building strong patient relationships align closely with the mission of FCS." Dr. Jain earned her medical degree from SMC, India. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Northwestern Medicine, Illinois, followed by a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. She is board certified in medical oncology, hematology and internal medicine. Prior to joining FCS in 2026, Dr. Jain practiced in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com) For more than 40 years, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has embraced innovation to deliver world-class care and drive the dramatic transformation of oncology care through its robust clinical research program. FCS provides patients with access to a wide range of clinical trials, positioning it as a leader in research among private oncology practices in Florida and across the country. Through its robust clinical research program with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and a suite of independent site management programs, with advanced clinical trial matching technology, FCS offers patients innovative therapies close to home. Each year, FCS conducts more than 180 active clinical trials that directly elevate patient care and accelerate progress in oncology. Many of the cancer drugs approved by the FDA in the U.S over the past decade were accessible to patients at FCS through clinical trial participation before receiving approval. Our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians is committed to delivering tailored treatment plans that make the best use of cutting-edge precision oncology advancements to enhance patient outcomes. SOURCE Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute Woman allegedly kept as slave told nurse about abuse, court hears A woman who was allegedly kept as a slave by a Melbourne couple told a nurse they had been assaulting her, a court has heard. The Coalition has once again asked if additional shipments of oil have been delayed or cancelled since the last update on Monday, and the government has once again said they have not. Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Alex Ellinghausen The question was taken by Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who said the answer is no, before saying more replacement cargoes could be expected soon. There is a massive impact on the global supply chain of oil and petrol. As we have been saying all through March, our job is to secure as best we can the supply of fuel in those circumstances, Bowen said. Thats exactly what weve done. And we have, we have provided information on that transparently each and every day. And thats where well leave todays live coverage. Thanks for joining us. Advertisement InspirationSydney The best places to eat and drink in Sydney Jill Dupleix April 1, 2026 11:47am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A This story is part of Travellers Destination Guide to Sydney. See all stories . From sunny breakfasts in the morning to tropical cocktails in the evening, Sydney lays it on thick. The sparkling harbour is the perfect backdrop to the casual comfort of cosy wine bars and the craft and creativity of high-end restaurants. And it wouldnt be Sydney without the smoky sizzle of contemporary Asian street food, and a good corner pub. Come hungry. 24 York Steak frites with umami butter. Steven Woodburn Steak and fries, Sydney style When the team behind popular steakhouse Rockpool Bar & Grill opened 24 York in 2025 with a single dish on the menu, the people rejoiced. The steak frites marbled grass-fed scotch fillet with a pile of beef tallow fries come with a choice of peppercorn, chimichurri, umami butter or veal jus for $48. OK, so the cheesecake is extra, but the wine list is beef-friendly and the big, buzzy room has a sizzle of its own. 24 York Street, Sydney. See 24-york.com.au Bessies, Surry Hills Advertisement Casual Euro-French restaurant Bessies. Edwina Pickles Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. A celebration of food, wine and friends If you didnt know Bessies is run by a group of chef mates who know how to have a good time, you soon will. Its in the high-energy elbow-to-elbow Alma bar, the smoky coal-charred Murray Cod, house-made mortadella, and the friendly approach to beers, cocktails and natural wines. Bessies Euro-French food is perfect for sharing, especially the wood-fired crown of duck with agrodolce raspberry and radicchio. Great for date nights and mate nights. 111-115 Albion Street, Surry Hills. See bessiesrestaurant.com Cafe Margaret, Double Bay Cafe Margarets famous American cheeseburger. All-day all-Australian dining The upscale Margaret restaurant next door is reserved for feasting on Australias finest fish and dry-aged beef, but little Cafe Margaret draws the same crowd back for more casual all-day dining, seven days a week. Acclaimed chef/owner Neil Perry is the name behind the double-bacon sandwiches and famous cheeseburger, and the reason that even the breakfast fruit platter, freshly baked pastries and simple fish dishes are built on top produce. 30-36 Bay St, Double Bay. Phone: (02) 9068 8888. See themargaretfamily.com Advertisement Cibaria, Manly The Cibaria gorgonzola al cucchiaio trolley. Everything Italian, by the sea Pronounce it Chee-bah-ryah and youll feel molto Italian in this easy, approachable ground floor hotel space, cleverly divided into multiple kitchens that echo the best of Italian seaside dining. Everything is delivered with just the right degree of carefree but not-too-casual Italian flair. Start with a puffy pizza bianco and platter of salumi, follow with pasta, crisp-fried seafood or grills, then grab a brilliant gelato from the gelateria and stroll along the beach. 55 North Steyne, Manly. See cibariamanly.au Claret Club, Darlinghurst Darlinghurst wine bar Claret Club. Isabella Wild Advertisement Wine-friendly food upstairs and down The heart-shaped sign on the street is a dead giveaway: these people love wine. Bridget Raffal and Harry Hunter have installed a wine-first, food-second diner in a cute and cosy two-storey inner east terrace house, with a rotating selection of 30 wines written on the mirror. Drop in for a cheese plate or stay for simple wine-friendly plates such as confit duck or snapper with juicy cherry tomatoes and top points for scoring a balcony table upstairs. 77 Stanley St, Darlinghurst. Phone: 0427 744 290. See claretclub.com.au The Dry Dock, Balmain Sydney corner pub The Dry Dock in Balmain. Old inner west pub thats right for today Sydneys corner pubs are part of its rich history, built to refresh sailors, labourers and those from afar. The Dry Dock brings that concept up to date with its front bar, bistro and bustling restaurant, refreshing the lucky locals of this leafy harbourside suburb and travellers alike. Chef Ben Sittons kitchen is serious about steak-and-fries, the seafood platter is legendary, the wine list is noteworthy. And despite the style and professional polish, you still feel youre in a Balmain pub. Cheers. 22 Cameron Street, Balmain. See thedrydock.com.au Flaminia, Sydney Advertisement Light-filled dining room at Flaminia, Circular Quay. Nikki To A spritzy salute to Italy Perched in a glass box right on Circular Quay, just along from the Opera House, Flaminia couldnt be more Sydney. So how come it feels like a holiday in Italy? From the team behind the much-loved Pilu at Freshwater, the bright and breezy space is good for everything from big celebrations to business lunches and pre-theatre suppers. Go for antipasti (mozzarella in carozza), pasta (spaghetti alla bottarga) and grills (Mooloolaba king prawns) inspired by the port cities of Genoa, Venice and Naples and Sydney. Level 2, Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, 61 Macquarie St, Sydney. See flaminia.com.au Grandfathers, Sydney Fish tanks illuminate the dining room at Chinese restaurant Grandfathers. Flavio Brancaleone Big-night-out Chinese with nostalgia on tap One of Sydneys most successful small restaurant groups (Andy Tyson, Mikey Clift and Dan Pepperell) has escalated the classic Friday night Chinese order to something special in this dimly lit, romantic cabaret space. That means clubby cocktails, exquisite dumplings, spicy Hunanese and peppery Sichuan dishes, and an excellent Peking Duck, the cracking-crisp skin arrayed on a bed of prawn crackers. Even the fried rice is elevated to gourmet status. Angel Place, Sydney. Phone: (02) 9127 7067. See grandfathers.com Advertisement Hamsi Taverna, Glebe Outdoor dining at Hamsi Taverna at the Sydney Fish Market in Blackwattle Bay. Relaxed Mediterranean eatery with added sunsets The new Sydney Fish Market in Blackwattle Bay is a gleaming sculptural destination dedicated to a live fish market, 40 fish shops and lots of waterside dining options for visitors. Our tip: choose a sunny terrace table at Hamsi Taverna and cover the table with Somer Sivrioglus creamy Mediterranean dips, puffy Turkish breads, fried calamari, grilled lobster and Greek salads. Kick back with a spritz as the magnificent Anzac Bridge arcs across the bay in front of you. Level One, Sydney Fish Market, 1 Bridge Rd, Glebe. Phone: (02) 7235 1886. See hamsitaverna.com.au Saint Peter, Paddington The charcuterie plate at Saint Peter at The Grand National Hotel in Paddington. Jennifer Soo Advertisement Sydneys fishiest big night out In foodie circles, Josh Niland is a global star, thanks to his rigorous (and delicious) obsession with treating fish as if it were meat. Think Murray cod chorizo, swordfish belly bacon, tuna Wellington and an impressive selection of seafood charcuterie, delivered in a multi-course degustation with attention paid to every detail. His elegant restaurant, Saint Peter, is ensconced in a lovely old pub in Paddington, with a front bar that has a seriously good snacky menu of its own, and boutique accommodation upstairs. Saint Peter at the Grand National, 161 Underwood Street, Paddington. See saintpeter.com.au Happyfield, Haberfield The McLovin breakfast muffin at Happyfield, Haberfield. Alana Dimou Stacks of sunny, happy pancakes If the idea of soft, fluffy pancakes oozing with butter and Canadian maple syrup doesnt make you happy, then add a stack of crisp bacon, eggs, hash browns or smoky pork sausages. Happyfield will happily do it all, from an espresso to an espresso martini, in its sunny yellow American-style diner. In more happy news, the corner cafe has been joined by a fast order-and-pick-up Happy Shop next door if you cant wait for a table. 96 Ramsay St, Haberfield 02 (02) 9716 5168. See happyfield.com.au Ibushi, Sydney Advertisement Ibushis centrepiece charcoal grill. Japanese counter dining touched by fire, smoke and sizzle This contemporary Japanese izakaya is part of the buzzy, multiple-floored Prefecture 48 restaurant and bar complex, accessed only through a historic sandstone cart-way tunnel. The food sings and hisses on the open robata grill and in the irori sunken hearth. Dont miss chef Chris Kims tuna tartare on crunchy fingers of sushi rice, or the grilled pork chop with miso pumpkin puree or metallic sculpture above your head that moves gently with the light. 230 Sussex Street, Sydney. See azabugroup.com WHEN IN SYDNEY Toast the iconic sails at Opera Bar. Oscar Colman More quintessential Sydney things to tick off your list. Dont leave without ... Advertisement Related Article Sydney 20 things that surprise first-time visitors to Sydney Downing half a dozen of the famous Sydney Rock oysters (try Morrisons Oyster Bar & Grill in The Rocks). Eating fish and chips on the beach at Bondi, Coogee or Manly. Communing over a great laneway coffee in Potts Point (try Primary, Gypsy, Algorithm or Room Ten). Having a drink at the Opera Bar at the foot of the Sydney Opera House and raising a glass to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and those magnificent sails. Scoffing that iconic Australian creation, the lamington, elevated to an art form at Tokyo Lamington, a sweet little coconut-dusted inner west bakery. Their flavours are legendary but the OG (sponge cake, chocolate coating, coconut) is benchmark. Advertisement WorldEuropePrince Harry Revealed: Prince Harrys flirty messages and movie snuggles with reporter Victoria Ward April 1, 2026 2:55pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A The Duke of Sussex sent a stream of personal Facebook messages to a journalist, joking about drinking her under the table and movie snuggles. In conversations between December 2011 and January 2012, Prince Harry referred to Charlotte Griffiths, a Mail on Sunday reporter, as sugar and signed off with the word mwah and strings of kisses. Charlotte Griffiths is now the Mail on Sundays editor at large. Dave Benett/Getty Images The messages were disclosed to the High Court as part of the Dukes privacy claim against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. They suggested the pair were on closer terms than the Duke had indicated. He had told the court in January that he had only met Griffiths once, at a party, and cut off contact the next day as soon as he realised she was a journalist. Advertisement The 11-week trial ended on Tuesday, with the barristers making closing submissions to Justice Nicklin, who will deliver his ruling at a later date. The newly released message appeared to show the duke had previously struck up a friendship with the Mail on Sundays former diary editor. Griffiths, 40, now editor at large, had told the High Court earlier in March that she had socialised in some of the same circles as the younger royals. Prince Harry is embroiled in a group legal battle with Associated Newspapers in London. Getty Images She described how Prince Harry friended her on Facebook in 2011 and sent her his mobile number before they exchanged messages online. They both also attended an all-night party the following June and texted each other the next morning. Advertisement When the duke gave evidence, he said he had no idea whether she moved in his social circles and insisted he had only met Griffiths once, at a party hosted by their mutual friend Arthur Landon. When he realised she was a journalist, he said he had words with his friend, and that was that. Related Article Royal family Harry and Meghan to make first trip to Australia in seven years But the string of Facebook messages, seen in full for the first time, appears to suggest a slightly different story. The duke sent the first message, on Dec 4, 2011, telling Griffiths: Its H,incase u were confused by name and picture!!! X. Griffiths, who at the time was the papers deputy diary editor, replied: Hello Mr Mischief Did you get home OK slash did you actually find your car and did you beat Arthur down the motorway more importantly?! Advertisement A fun weekend of naughtiness She added: What a fun weekend of naughtiness cant we all get up to no good in the countryside every weekend damn it?? Smooches, CG String. Xxx The duke replied that it was without doubt the best of those weekends Ive been to. He added: What a crowd. Never laughed so much in 24hrs!! Mr mischief? How do I get that title ... l was surely no worse than anyone else!! He said he had Serious withdraw symptoms still but that he had been forced to make polite conversation with strange people at a dinner last night.begging them for money for charity! Really fun.not. Advertisement Related Article Prince Harry Prince Harrys team sent private investigator a death threat The duke told Ms Griffiths: Hope work isnt too dull wherever u are?! Griffiths suggested a team reunion and referred to the lack of banter on the group email front! Just over 10 days later, on December 15, the duke told the journalist she had missed a good party last night. Then on January 22, 2012, Griffiths replied, referring to the Duke as H Bomb and telling him: We missed you so much at Arthurs last week. Advertisement The duke responded: I WISH I was there sugar but unfortunately stuck in Cornwall doing Army stuff :( Otherwise I would have been there playing and then drinking u under the table,obvi!! He added: Just wish I could have been there ... especially now that youre there! Dou ever work?!!.... Hope youre really well Griff ... Miss our movie snuggles!! Im off comms all week incase u think Im being rude,keep me posted xxx xxx xxx. The messages dated from 2011-12, during Harrys stint as an army helicopter pilot. nna\jabi Griffiths told the court that in June 2012, she and Harry had both attended a house party hosted by Landon, which she remembered because they thought it was quite funny that the duke had stayed up all night before having to go to a Trooping the Colour event the next morning. Call data is said to show a call between the two at 2.50am, and three text messages exchanged between them the next morning. Advertisement At the High Court on Tuesday, barristers for each side submitted closing written arguments totalling 392,164 words. Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers, criticised the speculative nature of the claim, brought by seven high-profile figures including Sir Elton John and Baroness Lawrence, and the frankly desperate allegations put repeatedly to respectable journalists. David Sherborne, for the claimants, said each of his clients should receive a very substantial award of damages. The judge said he would be toiling away on the judgment full-time after Easter, but gave no indication about how long the task might take. Judgment is reserved. Advertisement The Telegraph, London Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Prince Harry Royal family For a man who said Anthony Albanese wasted the nations time, Angus Taylor was very keen to borrow some of it. Same hour, similar stage, but this time just the ABC not the commercial networks. A relief for fans of Millionaire Hot Seat and Home & Away that there was no delay at 7pm. The ABCs long-standing rule prime minister gets the mic, opposition gets a comparable reply has hosted its share of heavyweights: John Howard and Simon Crean on Iraq; Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott on carbon tax; Paul Keating and John Hewson on native title; and Albanese replying to Scott Morrison in the early, anxious days of COVID. History, in other words. But this felt slightly more like a sequel for which nobody asked. China, Pakistan put forward five-point initiative for restoring peace, stability in Gulf region and Middle East Xinhua) 08:05, April 01, 2026 BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China and Pakistan put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region during talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Dar reviewed the situation in the Gulf and the Middle East region during their talks. The two sides put forward the following: I. Immediate cessation of hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas. II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks. III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants. IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible. V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) HONG KONG, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On 31 March, Fosun International held its 2025 annual results presentation in Shanghai. Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International; Wang Qunbin, Co-Chairman of Fosun International; Chen Qiyu, Co-CEO of Fosun International; Xu Xiaoliang, Co-CEO of Fosun International; Gong Ping, CFO of Fosun International, as well as a number of institutional investors and analysts attended the event. On the evening of 30 March, Fosun International announced its 2025 annual results. During the Reporting Period, the Group's total revenue reached RMB173.43 billion, and adjusted industrial operation profit was RMB4 billion. Fosun International's adjusted net asset value (NAV) was RMB133.5 billion, with a NAV per share reaching HKD18.1. Its four core subsidiaries generated RMB128.2 billion in revenue, accounting for 74% of the Group's total revenue. Among them, Fosun Pharma achieved a net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent of RMB3.371 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 21.69%. Fosun Insurance Portugal achieved a net profit attributable to owners of the parent of EUR201 million, up 15.8% year-on-year. Compared to prior years, Fosun's results have largely remained stable. However, Fosun made non-cash impairment provisions and value revaluations on certain real estate projects with impairment indicators, as well as goodwill and intangible assets of certain non-core business segments. This resulted in a book loss of RMB23.4 billion in 2025, of which real estate-related impairment accounted for approximately 55%, while impairment of non-core assets accounted for approximately 45%. These provisions do not affect the Company's overall operations and cash flow. "Repairing the roof on a sunny day" Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International, emphasized that this impairment is akin to "repairing the roof on a sunny day", and from a long-term perspective, this impairment marks Fosun's entry into a new stage of development. "We will divest assets with low profitability and value below target, and focus our resources on core, highgrowth areas, steering the Company toward a leaner, healthier, and more sustainable future." He explained that the operating results of Fosun's various business segments indicate that Fosun's core businesses remain solid. The pharmaceutical business has continued to make breakthroughs in its global expansion, with multiple products launched overseas and several promising pipeline products. The insurance business recorded growth both domestically and internationally, with Fosun Insurance Portugal expanding its business into regions such as Latin America and Africa. Meanwhile, domestic insurance companies, Fosun United Health Insurance and Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance, recorded significant profit increases. In the culture and tourism business, Club Med achieved record-high results. "These businesses are capable of generating sustainable profit and cash flow, laying the foundation for Fosun's continued growth. Following this significant impairment, Fosun's future operating results will more accurately reflect the underlying quality of our core businesses," said Guo Guangchang. No further impairment pressure is expected going forward Following Fosun's results announcement, one of the market's key concern is the Company's future impairment pressure. At the results presentation, Wang Qunbin, Co-Chairman of Fosun International, stated that from the Group's perspective, prudent and adequate provisions were made, taking into account the actual operating environment of each impaired asset, the valuation cycle of the industry in which the asset operates, the projected growth and development of these assets and industries, and in accordance with the principle of prudence and the requirements of Hong Kong accounting standards. At present, Fosun is not expected to face further impairment pressure going forward. Since the Group announced its asset impairment, Fosun's management has proactively and promptly engaged with rating agencies, major partner banks and public bond investors, and has gained recognition from partners. Wang Qunbin stated that while Fosun is confident in its financing capabilities in the future, and the domestic and international financing landscape and costs have improved significantly, Fosun remains committed to "streamlining operations and strengthening the business", focusing on development, and continuously improving its ratings. High-quality breakthroughs in multiple core business areas Regarding Fosun's key business directions, Chen Qiyu, Co-CEO of Fosun International, stated that Fosun will continue to focus on its core businesses to drive medium-to long-term value growth. First, it will focus on its innovation and globalization strategies to pursue better and more sustainable value. Second, Fosun's robust global insurance business will drive healthy profit and cash flow growth, serving an important cornerstone for Fosun's future profit growth. Third, it will continue to advance the asset-light and global operations of its culture and tourism business to better leverage resources and drive efficient growth. In addition, it will strive to upgrade and achieve breakthroughs in high-quality assets and businesses such as Yuyuan's gold and jewelry business, Shede Spirits, and Hainan Mining. Xu Xiaoliang, Co-CEO of Fosun International, stated that despite the high degree of uncertainty in the global macroeconomic environment last year, Fosun continued to optimize its financial structure and steadily enhanced business operations by focusing on its core businesses. It also achieved high-quality breakthroughs in multiple core business areas. Revenue from its four major business segmentsHealth, Happiness, Wealth, and Intelligent Manufacturingsaw steady growth, overseas revenue continued to increase, innovation became a core competitive advantage, globalization accelerated further, and global operational capabilities continued to strengthen. Going forward, Fosun will continue to deepen its strategic focus, strengthen its global operational capabilities, intensify innovation efforts, and invest in the future with greater composure and determination to achieve long-term, sustainable value growth. Fully confident in the Company's future development Regarding external concerns about Fosun's financing channels and debt, Gong Ping, CFO of Fosun International, stated that the Group's diversified financing channels remain open and its cost of debt is steadily declining. Since 2025, Fosun International has completed four long-term bond issuances overseas and successfully issued multiple 2-year credit bonds domestically, effectively extending debt maturity and optimizing debt structure. The proportion of medium- and long-term debt has increased from 48.7% in 2024 to 53.5%. This includes Fosun's announcement earlier today of a full tender offer to repurchase its remaining US dollar bonds maturing in May 2026, totaling approximately USD205 million, at 100% of par value, with the repurchase funded by the Group's own funds. Gong Ping added that Fosun will take a multi-pronged approach to streamline the Group's asset portfolio and enhance transparency, thereby accelerating valuation recovery. Management has set a clear medium-term target of achieving a net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent of more than RMB10 billion, mainly by accelerating the sale of asset-heavy projects and non-core subsidiaries, optimizing the asset portfolio, reducing the Group's interestbearing debt to below RMB60 billion, and lowering financial expenses. At the same time, Fosun will actively explore ways to bring non-listed assets to the capital market. Fosun's management expressed full confidence in the Company's future development at the results presentation. The Company's Board of Directors has announced a share buyback program. Fosun's major shareholder and management team will also increase their holdings in the shares of the Company. In the future, Fosun will actively explore and gradually introduce further measures to enhance shareholder returns, including optimizing the dividend mechanism, in line with operational improvements and cash flow conditions. "I believe Fosun has the ability to navigate through cycles. While we may face some short-term challenges, these efforts will position Fosun for steadier, longer-term growth," said Guo Guangchang. SOURCE Fosun State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code 13 Hole Drill Plan on Two Exploration Sites 2,200 Feet of New Road Construction Driller Contracted VANCOUVER, BC, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Glenstar Minerals Inc. (CSE: GSTR) (OTCQB: GSTRF) (FRA: VO20) ("Glenstar" or the "Company") announces that it has received approval from the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") to conduct a thirteen (13) hole reverse circulation drill program at it's Wildhorse Project in Mineral County, Nevada. The BLM approval also provides for the construction of 2,200 feet of additional access road(s) to the drill sites, to complement existing land access to the exploration areas and planned drill target sites. The Company has also contracted Midnight Sun Drilling Inc. ("MSD") to conduct the drill program at Wildhorse. MSD is a well-established drilling company in business for over 50 years, with offices in the Yukon, Alaska, and Nevada that has previously worked with Glenstar on the Green Monster Project in southern Nevada in May of 2025, which confirmed the presence of anomalous Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Zinc that was reported from previous channel sampling results (see news release dated April 22, 2025 and May 28, 2025). Assay results from the recent trenching program at Wildhorse that was conducted in late February are still pending from ALS Chemex, however, visual examination of the bedrock that was uncovered in the trenches during this program confirmed what previous surface sampling suggested was occurring geologically at Wildhorse. The Company anticipates receiving these assay results at any time (see news release dated March 10, 2026). The Wildhorse Project drill plan will be comprised of six (6) holes at the Coca Cola Zone and seven (7) holes at the Rattlesnake Zone. The Company is very enthusiastic to initiate drilling at both of these zones at Wildhorse following the recent trenching that occurred at the Coca Cola Zone, that resulted in defining the bedrock orientation of a meter scale zone of quartz veining, and copper oxide and sulfide mineralization. Trenching also exposed a wider width of alteration than initially anticipated and the trend of mineralization that continued throughout the exposed bedrock was significant and is considered to be very encouraging. Coca Cola Zone The six planned drill holes at the Coca Cola Zone will follow the mineralized trend that was uncovered during previous sampling work conducted to the east of the trenches, where select assay results returned copper values of 1.6%, 5.3%, 2.3% and 5.1%, along with an average of 21.6 ppm silver. Additionally, the samples are anomalous in bismuth - averaging 156 ppm across four samples, and also tungsten which averaged 72.5 ppm across the same samples. Geologic observations of this zone include the presence of a complex array of narrow porphyritic dikes with feldspar phenocrysts in a black, fine-grained matrix. By compiling the results of the phase one rock sampling work and geologic observations from the trenching program, a clear picture of property scale geological, alteration, and mineralization zoning is emerging. The central portion of the property contains complex porphyritic intrusions within a strong skarnified envelope. High grade copper and silver, along with strongly anomalous tungsten, bismuth, and antimony in the central portion are surrounded by strong zinc and lead mineralization in areas more distal from the center of the system, as it is understood at this early stage of exploration of the property (see news release of July 23, 2025). Trenching also showed that what was originally thought to be a north-south trend of mineralization was intersected by the newly uncovered east-west trend of highly fractured and altered rock that appears to continue beyond the trenches. This new trending information has confirmed the drill hole locations for this first phase of drilling at the Coca Cola Zone. The six hole drill plan will follow the mineralized trend line for ~500 feet from the east sampling zone to the west trench area, and each hole will be drilled to a depth of up to 500 feet at various angles yet to be fully determined. Rattlesnake Zone The seven drill holes planned for the Rattlesnake Zone, which lies approximately 1,600 feet to the northeast of the Coca Cola Zone, will each be drilled to a depth of 300 to 500 feet, however, these holes will be vertical in nature and follow the north-south mineralization direction encountered during previous field work. Property scale zoning of gold, silver, tungsten, bismuth, tellurium, and base metals suggest the center of the mineralized system at the Wildhorse Project lies around and between the Rattlesnake and Coca Cola Zones, and may extend under cover to the east and west of these outcropping areas. Data compiled thus far suggests that there could be in excess of 1 km of strike length between these two zones and the drill plan is designed to test the degree and extent of similar mineralization at each zone and delineate the magnitude of the potential skarn system and the expected underlying porphyry system (see news release of September 24, 2025). Project Geologist Bob Marvin remarked that, "We are quite pleased with the quick turnaround from the BLM in approving the drill program and new road access construction. The addition of Midnight Sun Drilling to the project is fantastic as we have worked very successfully with them at the Green Monster Project. Personally, I am quite excited to kick off this next stage of exploration drilling to see how significant the extent of polymetallic mineralization, and tungsten in particular, at Wildhorse truly is." Project Background & Recent Exploration Work The Wildhorse Property is comprised of 89 mineral claims, representing 1,780 acres (720 hectares) in Mineral County, Nevada, and was initially targeted after compilation of all available data, including notes of a 1975 field examination contained in the Anaconda Company archives housed at the university of Wyoming. The claims show historical workings that appear to date from the late 1800's and early 1900's. Other claim stakes that the geological team discovered on the property indicate the last time the area was staked was 2011, however, these claims were never registered with the BLM. Preliminary geological assessment of the claims, and the area in general, indicate there are a series of east dipping mineralized zones. Initial field examination of the property identified and sampled a quartz veinlet zone containing in excess of 1 gram per ton gold, 1% copper, and 6,100 ppm of antimony. It was also reported that outcropping zones also contain bismuth and tungsten, which points to a focused intrusive source for the epidote skarn alteration and poly-metallic system (see news release dated February 11, 2025). About Glenstar Minerals Inc. Glenstar is a mineral exploration company with a focus on polymetallic minerals. These elements are classified as critical minerals and are essential in the manufacturing of sophisticated electronics and other vital energy technologies. The Company's mission is to leverage its knowledge and connections to explore, acquire, and develop critical mineral and energy metal properties throughout the world. Glenstar's shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol "GSTR", on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "VO20", and on the Over-the-Counter market (OTCQB) in the United States under the symbol "GSTRF". Robert Marvin, P.Geo (ONT) is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is the independent consulting geologist for Glenstar Minerals Inc. who has examined the Green Monster and Wildhorse properties on the ground numerous times since 2022 and 2024 respectively. All fieldwork relating to geologic observations and sampling as reported herein, has been directly overseen by Mr. Marvin who supervised the preparation of, and has reviewed and approved, the technical information in this release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "David Ryan" President & CEO Further information regarding the Company can be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, by visiting the Company's website at www.glenstar.ca or by contacting the Company directly at 604-449-2810. Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward- looking information"). Without limiting the foregoing, such forward-looking information includes statements regarding the process and completion of any Offering, the use of proceeds of the Offering and any statements regarding the Company's business plans, expectations and objectives. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. Mineral exploration is subject to risks and uncertainties and there is no assurance that any potential results or findings that may be suggested in this press release will ultimately happen. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or the Company management's good faith belief with respect to future events and is subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis and financial statements and other documents filed by the Company with the Canadian securities commissions and the discussion of risk factors set out therein. Such documents are available at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile and on the Company's website. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. This release may contain certain forwardlooking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company and certain of the plans and objectives of the Company with respect to the same. By their nature, forwardlooking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forwardlooking statements. We seek safe harbour. SOURCE Glenstar Minerals Inc State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code By Rebecca Black and Grainne Ni Aodha, Press Association The Tanaiste has described an attempt at a proxy bomb attack on a police station in Northern Ireland as deeply chilling. Dissident republicans have been blamed for the incident, which saw a food delivery driver hijacked in Lurgan and forced to drive a crude but viable device to the Co Armagh towns police station. It has been roundly condemned by political leaders across Northern Ireland. Simon Harris said the dark history needs to be left there (PA) Police blasted it as likely to have been a sad and futile bid by dissident republicans to make themselves relevant ahead of the anniversary of the Easter Rising. The 1916 Rising is marked annually as one of the events leading to the independence of the Republic of Ireland from British rule in 1922. Tanaiste Simon Harris said Northern Irelands dark history needs to be left there. What we have seen in Lurgan is deeply chilling and deeply concerning, and I take very seriously what the PSNI say, he told reporters outside the Oireachtas in Dublin on Wednesday morning. The dark history needs to be left just there, and it is a reminder of the fact that we can never ever let out guard down in relation to that. Inquiries into the incident are continuing. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. We have a peace process on the island of Ireland, an enduring one, an ongoing one, and this chilling event is deeply concerning. Earlier, Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said the Police Service of Northern Ireland take the ongoing risk from dissident republicans seriously. She told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster programme: If they werent intent in causing harm, then they wouldnt be in those groups, its the only purpose that they serve. From our perspective, we take it seriously. I know the PSNI work very hard to keep people safe, to suppress the activities of these organisations and where they can do so, bring the people involved to justice. But we cant be complacent about the risks. Gordon Deegan An exploited migrant worker who alleges to have been paid an effective hourly rate of 1.61 has been awarded a cumulative 79,214 compensation by a State workplace watchdog. In the case at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Adjudicator, Brian Dalton has ordered restaurant operator, Madhu Foods Limited trading as Guru Indian Cuisine of Park Street, Townlands, Dundalk, to pay Vasantkumar Barot 79,214 for a series of workplace legislation breaches. Mr Barot was represented in the case by the Sylwia Nowakowska of Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) and at WRC hearing, Mr Barot in sworn evidence alleged that the restaurant firm, misled him, received close to 15,000 from him to pay for a work permit, was told he would work as a Commis Chef for 40 hours a week and earn about 570 a week. Mr Barot borrowed funds from his family and friends to pay for the work permit and arrived in Ireland in mid-March 2023. Mr Barot alleged that he was directed to work on a farm owned by the restaurant firm from early in the morning and then would be told to work at one of the restaurants controlled by the firm. However, Mr Barot alleged that he worked on average more than 90 hours a week and received irregular payments from his employer in cash or by electronic funds transfer in amounts ranging from 1,000 to 99. Mr Barot alleged that he received 11,6000 in total between March 14th, 2023, and March 26th, 2024, and his average gross rate per hour it is alleged was 2.96 in 2023 and 1.61 in 2024. There was no appearance by the restaurant firm at the WRC hearing to rebut any of the allegations made, and Mr Barot alleged that he was exploited most egregiously by his employer. Mr Barot alleged that he paid his employer a large sum of money that he had to borrow on the promise that he would have a good job. He was then led to believe that he continued to owe his employer money based on the false assertions that the work permit payments were far greater than they actually were and that he had to pay for that permit. Mr Barot said that the oppressive conditions he endured by him led him to run away "from what amounted to economic slavery, distressed and fearful about his future". In his findings, Mr Dalton ordered that the company pay Mr Barot 24,500 compensation for breaching the National Minimum Wage Act after Mr Barot alleged that he worked above 90 hours a week. Mr Dalton said there are no records to support that 90-hour claim other than oral evidence, and the employer carries the burden to keep records. He said that Mr Barot also must have some evidential obligation, and at a minimum, that should be some corroborating facts. Mr Dalton said that while the employee gave credible evidence that he worked long hours, with an average weekly working time of more than 48 hours, in the absence of any records, "and noting the employers obligation to keep records, I have decided that the claim for minimum wage is assessed on the statutory maximum of 48 hours per week". In his findings, Mr Dalton stated that there is no question that Mr Barot was exploited. Mr Dalton awarded 15,000 compensation concerning Mr Barots excessive working hours claim; 10,000 for not receiving rest periods between shifts, and 15,000 for harassment on the grounds of race. Mr Dalton states that the making of the 15,000 award for the act of harassment on the grounds of race, and the fact that it was "most egregious." A WOMAN told Carlow District Court that she was left bleeding heavily from a head wound and denied medical help after her former partner kicked in a toilet door during a violent incident at their shared home. The case, which was heard in camera, involved charges of section 3 assault and section 2 sexual assault against the man, who was present in court along with the injured party, both of whom required a Portuguese interpreter throughout the proceedings. The court heard that the injured party had requested the matter be dealt with that day, as continuing legal proceedings were taking a psychological toll on her. The couple had been in a relationship but were no longer together at the time of the incident. However, the injured party told the court she was still living at the same address and sleeping on a mattress in the same room while she looked for alternative accommodation. She is no longer living there. She told the court that on the night of the incident, the accused arrived home at around 2.30am under the influence of alcohol. People with him said he was drinking since morning time, she said. She described him as very crazy and very aggressive and said he began switching on the television and an Alexa device before running his hands over her body. I started to wrestle with him because he lay on top of me. I had to use my hands and feet to get him off from on top of me, she said. He was trying to kiss me around my neck. He didnt touch anywhere else. She said she had not wanted him to kiss her. The witness told the court that the incident was brief, but that the rest of the night brought further distress. She waited until the accused fell asleep before switching off the television and Alexa device. She then went to turn off his phone, but he woke as she held it and, fearing his reaction, she ran to the toilet. He kicked the door about ten kicks. The door broke and it injured my face, she said. He opened the door and noticed I was bleeding. There was a lot of blood. She said she felt he showed no concern for her injury. I felt he didnt feel my pain; he wasnt moved by the scene. The injured party said the accused then locked her in the toilet and attempted to dissuade her from reporting what had happened, while she tried to summon help due to the extent of her bleeding. She remained there for a prolonged period. I ran into the street and someone saw me covered in blood. People called the gardai when they saw me covered in blood, she said. She also told the court that when she had refused to have sexual relations with him, he had switched on all the devices for the night. Regarding the alleged sexual assault, she said: When he kissed me on the neck, I was trying all the time to get away from him. In fact, I believe he told the gardai he had scratch marks on his neck from me pushing him away. Defence solicitor Joe Farrell told the court that his client was entering a guilty plea to the section 3 assault but was not pleading guilty to the sexual assault charge. Mr Farrell conveyed an apology from the accused to the injured party. He is asking me to apologise to you for what happened that night and the injury you received and how he behaved that night, he said. The solicitor put it to the injured party that the injury had been caused by the door itself rather than by the kicking. She disagreed. What was more serious is him denying me medical help, she added. Garda Doyle, who responded to a call that a female had been assaulted, told the court the injured party was standing at the roadside, physically upset, with a wound on her head. He said the accused had separately attended a garda station, where he subsequently spoke with him. Garda Doyle said the injured party returned to the station after receiving medical treatment three stitches above her eye at which point she made an allegation of sexual assault. She told gardai the accused had held her hands over her head, kissed her neck and touched her in a way that made her uncomfortable and upset. She said he had touched her bottom and private parts without her consent. A statement from the accused was read to the court in which he denied touching her, saying he had only touched her shoulder, and stated: Her body has no marks, just her head. He said any contact would only have occurred with her consent. When it was put to him that it was alleged he had slapped and touched her inappropriately, he replied: I didnt touch her, I swear to God. Mr Farrell noted discrepancies between the evidence given in court and the injured partys original statement to gardai, which Garda Doyle agreed were present. Judge Geraldine Carthy said there was evidence that could not be challenged. She noted a medical report from A&E at St Lukes Hospital, completed by the consultant who attended on the night, which recorded that, according to the injured party, the accused had forced himself onto her, but that she had managed to fight him off and that he had not sexually assaulted her. Therefore, the court could never convict the accused of sexual assault, said the judge. I will dismiss section 2 and apply a conviction to section 3. Judge Carthy directed that a probation report be prepared and indicated that a victim impact statement would be offered to the injured party should she wish to provide one. The matter will be finalised in May. Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme ST. LOUIS, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, announced the following leadership changes that will take effect on July 1, 2026: David A. Bender , who currently serves as Senior Vice President - East Region, has been named Senior Vice President - North American Subsidiaries. In this role, he will provide strategic direction and leadership for all of Graybar's subsidiaries in the United States and Canada. , who currently serves as Senior Vice President - East Region, has been named Senior Vice President - North American Subsidiaries. In this role, he will provide strategic direction and leadership for all of Graybar's subsidiaries in the United States and Canada. Brian P. Delaney , who currently serves as Senior Vice President - West Region and Subsidiaries, has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager. He will be responsible for leading the growth and performance of Graybar's business nationwide. , who currently serves as Senior Vice President - West Region and Subsidiaries, has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager. He will be responsible for leading the growth and performance of Graybar's business nationwide. Richard H. Harvey, who currently serves as District Vice President for the company's New York and Boston districts, will take on an expanded role as Regional Vice President. Reporting to Delaney, he will oversee Graybar's operations on the East Coast and southeastern United States, including its Boston, New York, Richmond, Atlanta and Tampa districts. "As Graybar grows and evolves, strong leadership remains vital to our future," said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, Graybar's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "David, Brian and Rick are all proven leaders who continue to make a significant impact on Graybar and its success. I congratulate them on their new assignments and look forward to working with them to sustain our momentum and move our company forward." Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of more than 355 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network, automate and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR. Media Contact: Tim Sommer (314) 578-7672 [email protected] SOURCE Graybar THE WOODLANDS, Texas, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) will hold a conference call on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2026 financial results. Following some opening remarks, the call will move into a question and answer session. The earnings press release, including financial statements and segment information, will be distributed after the market closes on Thursday, April 30, 2026. The earnings slide presentation and prepared remarks will be available at www.huntsman.com/investors after the market closes on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Webcast link: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=CrqpAfyY Participant dial-in numbers: Domestic callers: (877) 402-8037 International callers: (201) 378-4913 The conference call will be accessible via the webcast link and Huntsman's investor relations website, www.huntsman.com/investors. Upon conclusion of the call, the webcast replay will be accessible via Huntsman's website. About Huntsman: Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of diversified chemical products with 2025 revenues of approximately $6 billion from our continuing operations. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 55 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 25 countries and employ approximately 6,000 associates within our continuing operations. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com. Social Media: X: www.x.com/Huntsman_Corp Facebook: www.facebook.com/huntsmancorp LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/huntsman Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information in this release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Huntsman companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of Huntsman's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting the ability to implement cost reductions, timing of proposed transactions, and manufacturing optimization improvements in Huntsman businesses and realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws. SOURCE Huntsman Corporation Steve Highlander and Gary Kuehn are both good guys and I know them both, but it's time for a change. New and fresh ideas are always needed. Let's elect James Walker to the School Board seat and Donna Christian Lowe to the Commissioner seat in District 9. Most importantly, get out and vote. Ernie McCarson EPB has joined the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative (SQC) as an inaugural member. SQC is an association of universities, technology companies and research institutions working together to accelerate the advancement and real-world application of quantum technologies across the Southeast. Led by The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), the collaborative brings together organizations from academia, industry and government to strengthen regional leadership in quantum information science while developing the workforce needed to support emerging quantum technologies. The effort is also designed to help position the Southeast as a global hub for quantum innovation, supporting economic growth, national security and next-generation technology development. EPBs participation reflects Chattanoogas growing role as a center for advanced technology and innovation. In 2023, EPB launched the EPB Quantum Network, the nations first commercially available, industry-led quantum network, lowering barriers to the development of a wide range of quantum technologies. Later this year, with the completion of an IonQ Forte Enterprise computer, EPB Quantum Center will become the first U.S. quantum technology center to provide commercial access to both quantum networking and quantum computing resources. EPB Quantum Center will provide a destination to explore quantum possibilities while benefiting EPBs customers in its 600-square-mile service area in and around Chattanooga. Quantum technology represents one of the most significant innovation opportunities of our time, said Janet Rehberg, president and CEO-elect, EPB. By joining the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative, EPB supports the development of a regional ecosystem that connects research, infrastructure and industry to accelerate innovation and drive economic development across the Southeast. EPB joins neighboring University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), which joined SQC earlier this year. Through a partnership with EPB, UTC became the first American university to host a node on a commercially available quantum network through its connection to EPB Quantum Network, enabling new research in quantum communications and networking. Additional regional momentum continues to grow, including the recent announcement of the Institute for Quantum Innovation led by EPB and Vanderbilt University, which aims to expand research and collaboration in quantum science and engineering. EPBs leadership in quantum technology builds on its experience as the operator of the nations most advanced automated grid and the worlds fastest community-wide internet, which generated $5.3 billion and 10,000 jobs in the first 15 years of operations. EPB began working in quantum technology with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory through an R&D 100 Award-winning collaboration that demonstrated how quantum security protocols can be deployed on power grids. Partners like EPB bring unique infrastructure and real-world deployment experience that will help accelerate the transition of quantum technologies from research to application, said Dr. Rainer Steinwandt, Dean of the UAH College of Science and executive director of the SQC. Their leadership strengthens the Southeasts ability to compete in the rapidly evolving quantum economy. Through collaboration, research partnerships and workforce initiatives, the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative aims to strengthen the regions position as a national leader in quantum innovation while creating new opportunities for economic growth and technology-driven investment. The City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution that gives CARTA the right to "boot" the vehicles of owners with delinquent tickets. It also gives booting rights to owners of private lots, who agree to hold down rates and not have high minimum parking rules. The ordinance allows CARTA's Parking Authority to begin "booting" vehicles whose owners have three or more delinquent parking tickets that have been unpaid for at least 60 days. CARTA said it has $4.7 million in unpaid parking tickets with some scofflaws with high amounts owed. The booting could occur on areas where the Parking Authority has enforcement power - public streets, public parking lots and public parking garages. The booting devices would be designed to self-release upon payment of the full amount owed, which could occur by mobile payment methods at the time the owner discovers the boot. CARTA would also be able to impound vehicles under the ordinance. The ordinance, for the first time, allows owners of private parking lots and garages the ability to boot those who do not pay them their charges. The "licensed booting operators" must obtain an annual license from the city. "Parking enforcement vendors" also need a license. A fee to remove a boot would be up to $75. Mayor Tim Kelly appeared before the council to speak in favor of the ordinance. He said it was a first step in improving the downtown parking situation. He said many residents tell him they do not go downtown because of parking hassles. He said he was recently in Greenville, S.C., which he said has "free parking" downtown. City Council Chair Jenny Hill expressed concerns about "predatory" parking lot owners she said had moved into the downtown area. Mayor Kelly said the ordinance should help with that. Click here to read the ordinance. The Hamilton County Sheriff Office said a woman who was acting suspiciously at the Red Bank High School parking lot later injured two deputies. The HCSO said, "Deputies responded to a report of a woman behaving in a suspicious manner in the Red Bank High School parking lot. 26-002911 6800 BLK Ringgold Road Traffic Stop / Narcotics Seizure Police Officers observed a silver Nissan Sentra traveling eastbound on Ringgold Road with no operational lights. Police initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver. While speaking with the driver, the officer could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A probable cause search yielded approximately 16 grams of suspected marijuana. The illegal narcotics were seized and placed in the ERPD Property and Evidence Room for destruction. Day Shift March 31: A Squad 26-002889 900 BLK Donaldson Road- Civil Matter The reporting party stated that her mother had been taken for mental health treatment. She reported that, prior to being taken to the hospital, her mother had two new keys made for their apartment, which were currently in the possession of her aunt. The reporting party stated that her mother instructed the aunt not to provide her with a key. The reporting party advised that she is listed on the lease and therefore has a right to access the apartment and obtain a key. Police contacted the aunt and informed her that the reporting party is on the lease and has the right to a key. The aunt then met officers outside the apartment and provided a key to the reporting party. 26-002883 3600 BLK Larry Lane - Property The reporting party stated that he lost his motorcycle tag approximately one year ago, somewhere between East Ridge and Harrison. He reported that he was currently at the Tag and Title office and was advised that he needs a police report to proceed. 26-0029890 3500 BLK Ringgold Road - Disorder Police responded after a disagreement over services between a customer and an employee. Police were able to de-escalate the situation, and all parties parted ways without further incident. The customer planned to return to the store the following business to have services completed. 26-002880 6000 BLK Welworth Avenue - Follow Up/Arrest Officers returned to this address, in reference to OCN 26-002843. Officers obtained a witness statement form, and returned to the address to attempt to make contact with the Juvenile involved in the case. Officers contacted the Juvenile, and took her into custody, and transported her to Juvenile Detention without Incident. 26-002878 - 4214 Ringgold Road - Harassment A party involved in OCN 26-002848 came to the East Ridge Police Department to report harassment coming from the original reporting party from 26-002848. The party provided her side of the story as well as numerous screenshots of the harassment and left without anything further. Case is still on going. 26-002879 4800 BLK Delaware Drive - Domestic Disorder Officers responded after a caller reported that his uncle and his sister had been involved in a verbal dispute. Officers arrived on scene and spoke to all parties involved and separated them. Officers determined no physical violence had occurred, however the parties agreed to separate for the remainder of the day to calm down. 26-002888 5700 BLK Roper Street- Domestic Disorder Police were dispatched to this address at the request of an unruly juvenile's mother. The mother stated her son had destroyed his room and was becoming "too much". The mother arrived at her apartment after leaving work and advised police that she was going to have her sister take the juvenile to Georgia for an unspecified amount of time. Night Shift March 31: D Squad 26-002898 3600 BLK Ringgold Road Deceptive Practice Police Officers responded to a deceptive practice complaint at the store. On scene, Police met with an employee who found a card skimming device at one of the check-out counters. Police collected the skimming device and placed it in the ERPD Property and Evidence Room. Further investigation will be required to identify the suspect responsible and determine if customer credit card information was compromised. 26-002899 10 BLK Frawley Road Suspicious Activity / Warrant Service A resident reported a suspicious vehicle was parked near their home at the end of a dead-end road. Police Officers responded to the location and determined the vehicle owner was fishing in a nearby creak. ERPD identified the owner and found he had a Failure to Appear warrant through the City of East Ridge. The original charge for the warrant was Possession of Methamphetamine. He was taken into custody and transported to Hamilton County Jail. 26-002908 3600 BLK Shirl Jo Lane Suspicious Vehicle A concerned resident reported a suspicious black Cadillac parked in front of his home. Police responded to the location and found the vehicle was unoccupied. ERPD eventually determined the vehicle belonged to a friend of a neighbor. He agreed to move it. 26-002912 1600 BLK Glowmont Drive Suspicious person An anonymous caller reported that two juveniles, wearing black ski masks and black jackets, were seen running through the area toward Georgia. East Ridge Police and Catoosa County Deputies checked the area but did not locate the suspicious individuals. 26-002914 6500 BLK Ringgold Road Intoxicated Person Police and Fire Department personnel responded to the report of an injured female sitting in the parking lot of the hotel. On scene, Police located a very intoxicated female with a large cut on her chin and determined that she most likely fell. The female was identified and provided with immediate care to control the bleeding. A Hamilton County EMS unit responded to the location and transported the female to a local hospital for further care. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House on March 30, 2026. | Screenshot: YouTube/ AP Karoline Leavitt addressed recent remarks by Pope Leo XIV on Monday, responding to the pontiffs criticism of war while also commenting on a diplomatic dispute involving access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Palm Sunday. Speaking during a White House press briefing focused on the ongoing war in Iran, Leavitt was asked about the popes Sunday homily in Rome, where he described Jesus Christ as the "King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war." "He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them," he continued, quoting Isaiah 1:15, when the prophet rebuked ancient Judah for its violence: "Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood." The pope has repeatedly urged an immediate ceasefire, dialogue and expanded humanitarian aid since the conflict began, at one point describing the war as a "scandal to the whole human family." "Our nation was a nation founded 250 years ago, almost, on Judeo-Christian values," Leavitt said. "And we've seen presidents, we've seen the leaders of the Department of War, and we've seen our troops go to prayer during the most turbulent times in our nation's history." "I dont think there's anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our service members and those who are serving our country overseas. In fact, I think it's a very noble thing to do," she added. Last week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth invoked imprecatory psalms against U.S. enemies during a Pentagon prayer service, reading a chaplains prayer that asked God to grant military forces wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. Leavitt also addressed an international incident involving Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was prevented by Israeli police from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday, according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Pizzaballa, whose jurisdiction includes both Israel and the Palestinian territories, was reportedly denied entry for security reasons and instead conducted a brief Palm Sunday service on the Mount of Olives, a site associated with Jesus lament over Jerusalem during the Triumphal Entry. Leavitt said she discussed the matter earlier Monday with Marco Rubio, noting that the administration had raised concerns with Israel. "We did express our concerns with Israel with respect to these holy sites being shut down," she said. "We want worshipers to be able to access these holy sites. Of course, safety is a top priority, but we understand Israel is working on those security measures to reopen the sites throughout Holy Week, and that's something that we're appreciative of." Access to religious sites in Jerusalems Old City sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam had been restricted since the outbreak of war with Iran, under orders from the Israeli Home Front Command, which is responsible for civilian protection during emergencies. Home News 'Double standard': Catholic University criticized for rejecting pro-Israel events on campus Catholic University of America denied a request from a Students Supporting Israel chapter to host two events on campus, citing a lack of balanced perspectives a requirement the group's leader called deeply concerning. Felipe Avila, a nursing student at CUA and president of the school's SSI chapter, maintains that the Washington-based university has "selectively" applied the opposing viewpoints requirement, calling it a "double standard." It is deeply concerning that Catholic University selectively applies equal-time policies, uniquely burdening Jewish and pro-Israel students, Avila told The Christian Post. When we host programming to discuss our community and its security, we shouldn't be forced to platform competing viewpoints as a condition of participating in campus life. It is a double standard no other student group is forced to navigate. Students Supporting Israel will continue to vigorously defend its right to speak out against antisemitism, in the very spirit of the Church's own teachings in Nostra Aetate, the nursing student added, referencing the Second Vatican Council declaration that transformed Jewish and Catholic relations. Avila requested approval in January to host two events on campus, but CUA rejected the requests on the basis of its Presentation Policys balanced presentation requirement." The university invited SSI to restructure the event and resubmit a request to have speakers representing both sides of this issue. In a March 18 letter sent to CUA President Peter Kilpatrick, the nonpartisan advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression urged the university to approve the events and issue a public statement assuring students the university will not compel speech as a condition for approval of student-hosted events. While CUA is a private university and therefore not bound by the First Amendment, it is legally and morally bound to adhere to the institutional commitments it has voluntarily made to protect students freedom of speech, FIREs letter stated. FIRE requested that CUA respond by Wednesday, confirming it will approve the SSI chapters event requests and issue a statement assuring student organizations that the administration will allow them to host speakers and events of their choosing. The first event Avila requested permission for would have featured U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., who would have spoken about the documented rise of antisemitism across the United States, with a specific focus on the complex climate currently facing institutions of higher education, as the letter noted. Avila also requested permission to host Israel Defense Forces Col. (res.) Dany Tirza, a chief architect of Israels security fence in Judea and Samaria. Tirza would have spoken to students about the reason for the fences construction and the difficult choices involved in balancing national security with the daily lives of people in the region. Leo Terrell, chair of the U.S. Department of Justices task force on combating antisemitism, also commented on the situation in a March 18 X post, writing, Is this a joke? In a statement to CP, a spokesperson for CUA said the university welcomes people of all faiths and stands firmly against antisemitism. We take seriously the safety and dignity of our Jewish students and every member of our community, the spokesperson said. Antisemitism is repellent and dangerous. We are committed to confronting it in ways consistent with our Catholic mission and belief in the dignity of every human person. Several recent events at CUA have focused on antisemitism and the Catholic Churchs relationship with the Jewish community. On March 4, Catholic Laws Center for Religious Liberty hosted a discussion about rising antisemitism on college campuses. Last November, CUAs School of Theology and Religious Studies also held a dialogue to mark the Second Vatican Council's Nostra Aetate declaration. The declaration condemned antisemitism, repudiating the charge of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Christ. It also affirmed the spiritual connection between Christianity and Judaism, as well as Gods enduring covenant with the Jewish people. We have invited Students Supporting Israel to submit a restructured proposal and to work within university processes to host a thoughtful conversation. As a private, religious institution, Catholic University is well within its rights to approve or deny any speaker request, the CUA spokesperson continued. We welcome SSIs outreach and are confident well reach a resolution quickly through good-faith dialogue. The situation between CUA and the SSI chapter comes as several Catholic speakers, such as Candace Owens and Carrie Prejean Boller, have recently generated attention for their anti-Israel rhetoric. Avila told CP he believes it is important to distinguish between individuals who happen to be Catholic and those who hold ecclesiastical roles and shape Church teaching. Every religion has its outliers, but Catholic dogma is clear: antisemitism and any form of racial discrimination are reprehensible. Those who purport to be Catholic while spreading anti-Jewish hatred are not following Church teaching, the SSI president said. Antisemitism is undeniably on the rise within Catholic communities, and we are seeing anti-Jewish ideology seep directly into our college campuses, he continued. We need university administrators to step up and definitively root out anti-Jewish hatred whenever and wherever it appears. Home News Christians massacred on Palm Sunday as attacks escalate in Nigeria Gunmen killed at least a dozen people at a bar in the city of Jos in Nigeria on Palm Sunday and a retaliatory mob killed at least 10 others, as attacks on Christian communities across the countrys Middle Belt and north intensified through the week. The shooting took place around 8 p.m. local time on Sunday in the Anguwan Rukuba neighborhood of Jos North district, Plateau State, when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a popular bar-cum-restaurant, Open Doors U.K. reported, citing the Plateau State Red Cross. Plateau State Red Cross Secretary Nurudeen Hussaini Magaji confirmed at least 12 people died at the scene. Local youth leader Mangalle Idris told AFP that a mob then formed and attacked people that were either passing or doing business, killing an estimated 10 individuals. Jos North Deputy Council leader Kabiru Sani put the combined toll at 27. Open Doors reported that 14 died at the scene and 13 others died at a local hospital, for a total of 27, while Arise TV cited a figure of at least 40 killed in Anguwan Rukuba. The state government, which ordered a 48-hour curfew in Jos North through Wednesday, said investigations were ongoing without confirming a death toll or naming suspects. Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Muftwang condemned the barbaric and unprovoked attack, saying all necessary measures were being taken to apprehend those responsible. No group has claimed responsibility, while social media posts blamed Fulani Muslim herders or rural criminal gangs. Truth Nigeria attributed the attack to the Boko Haram terrorist group; the claim had not been verified by the Nigerian military as of Wednesday. The same night, gunmen raided a wedding in Kahir village in Kagarko County, southern Kaduna State, killing at least 13 people and abducting several guests around 11:47 p.m., according to Truth Nigeria. Kagarko is a predominantly Christian area of southern Kaduna. Earlier in the week, radical Fulani militia attacked St. James the Great Catholic Church in Adu, Takum District, Taraba State, breaking windows, ransacking parish buildings and damaging the rectory. Judd Saul, founder of Equipping The Persecuted, was quoted as saying that more than 90,000 Christians in Takum District fled as militants pushed further into southern Taraba. Truth Nigeria said it had issued threat advisories on March 10 and March 21, both of which authorities ignored. Last Monday, a bomb blast believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device struck a village near Woro in Kaiama district, Kwara State, killing at least one person and injuring several others. The state had already suffered a February massacre that killed more than 160 people. Last Tuesday, terrorists from Lakurawa, a jihadist militia that now allegedly controls more than half of Kebbi States 21 counties, lured troops responding to a distress call into an ambush in Kebbi State, killing nine soldiers, a police officer and a civilian. Also last Tuesday, armed Fulani militia killed six residents and burned homes in a community in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, less than 20 miles from Abuja. Security experts were quoted as saying that the assault likely points to coordination between Fulani militia and insurgents such as the Islamic State of West Africa. Nigeria now ranks fourth on the Global Terrorism Index and recorded the largest increase in terrorism-related deaths of any country globally in 2025, with fatalities rising 46%. Home News Fmr. GLAAD pres. condemns push to trans kids: Stop harming children A former president of the prominent LGBT advocacy group GLAAD has spoken out against the push to prescribe puberty-blocking drugs and opposite-sex hormones to youth suffering from gender confusion, followed by further elective trans surgeries that mutilate the body. Herndon Graddick, who served as president of GLAAD from 2012-2013, recently spoke with Ben Kawaller and Andy Mills for the podcast series Strange Bedfellows: When LGB met T. I think we need to correct whats wrong with the LGBT movement, Graddick told Kawaller and Mills, adding that this included particularly the medicalization of children. Teenagers and kids should not be given the power to make these life-altering decisions that medicalization causes, said Graddick, as quoted by The Lynnwood Times. I just think that we should completely stop doing anything that might harm children, even if it means we admit that we got something really wrong, and my understanding is that we have. Graddick added that theres been a lot of fear about discussing things openly for fear of being called transphobic, and I think that were at a place that we can really have those conversations without that fear. Ben Appel, a writer and LGBT activist, wrote in response that Graddicks words felt vindicating and that this was a big deal given Graddicks work with GLAAD. It was under his leadership that the organization began to shift its focus to transgender issues, even going so far as to change its name from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to simply GLAAD, said Appel. In May 2013, after Graddick announced his resignation, Chad Griffin, then president of the [LGBT activist group] Human Rights Campaign, issued a statement thanking Graddick for leading GLAAD in its new and groundbreaking work to lift up transgender voices across the country. In recent years, there has been considerable debate in the United States and abroad about transgender ideology and the trans medicalization of youth. Several states have passed laws or policies that prohibit the prescribing of puberty blockers to children or mutilating surgeries for minors for the purpose of gender transition, such as castrating boys and severing girls' breasts. In February, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommended that its members stop performing trans surgeries on youth younger than 19. In a statement, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommended that surgeons delay gender-related breast/chest, genital, and facial surgery until a patient is at least 19 years old. Conversely, in February 2022, other medical groups, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association and the American Psychiatric Association issued a joint statement denouncing efforts to criminalize "gender-affirming care" for minors. Many other medical professionals, activists and individuals who formerly identified as transgender but no longer do so have criticized the so-called treatments, however. The New York Times published a feature story in 2022 showing that an increasing number of medical professionals and formerly trans-identified people were concerned about the potential long-term harmful effects of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children. In December 2024, the U.K.'s Department of Health and Social Care announced that it was banning the use of puberty-blocking drugs on children who struggle with gender dysphoria for the foreseeable future, except for clinical trials. Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in the case of United States v. Skrmetti, which upheld a Tennessee ban on the controversial procedures for youth. The plaintiffs fail to note that Tennessee also proclaimed a legitimate, substantial, and compelling interest in protecting minors from physical and emotional harm, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the majority. And they similarly fail to acknowledge that Tennessee found that the prohibited medical treatments are experimental, can lead to later regret, and are associated with harmful and sometimes irreversible risks. Milestone underscores 28-year commitment to advancing pediatric cancer research, survivorship, and global impact 2026 funding pushes lifetime giving to $303 million since 1998 Isabella Franco-Capps named National Youth Ambassador, joining Jackson Trinh NEW YORK, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by Hyundai Motor America and its more than 855 U.S. dealers, today announced a major philanthropic milestone, surpassing $303 million in lifetime giving to support childhood cancer research since its founding in 1998. As the nonprofit celebrates its 28th anniversary, the milestone underscores Hyundai Hope on Wheels' long-standing commitment to advancing research, improving survivorship, and fueling hope for children and families affected by cancer. Hyundai Hope on Wheels National Youth Ambassadors Isabella Franco-Capps and Jackson Trinh are photographed on Feb. 28, 2026. (Photo/Hyundai) "Three hundred million dollars in lifetime giving represents the children who are alive today because researchers had the resources to find new treatments," said Jose Munoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company. "The lives of more than 40,000 children have been saved by this work. Hyundai Hope on Wheels has given families hope when they needed it most. Together with our dealer partners, we have been part of this fight for 28 years, and we are not slowing down. Every vehicle sold helps contribute to this worthy cause. Progress for Humanity is the vision that guides everything we build and everything we give." Since its inception, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has helped drive meaningful progress in pediatric oncology, leading to an increase in U.S. childhood cancer survival rates from approximately 75 percent to 85 percent and positively impacting the lives of more than 40,000 children nationwide. "Reaching more than $300 million in lifetime giving is a powerful reflection of what's possible when purpose and partnership come together," said Randy Parker, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America. "For nearly three decades, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has remained steadfast in its mission to support children with cancer, fund innovative research, and stand with families every step of the journey. This commitment directly reflects our Progress for Humanity vision and reinforces our dedication to a future without childhood cancer." In 2026, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will award more than $29 million in grants across North America, including $26 million in the United States and $3 million in Canada, with additional funding planned in Mexico. These investments support cutting-edge research, survivorship initiatives, advocacy, and awareness efforts designed to create lasting impact for children and families. How $303 Million Translates Into Research, Care, and Survivorship Through sustained investment in pediatric cancer research, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has helped accelerate advancements that are extending lives, improving outcomes, and redefining survivorship for children diagnosed with cancer. Beyond research, Hyundai Hope on Wheels plays a critical role in supporting survivorship bringing together leading voices to address the long-term health, emotional well-being, and quality of life needs of children and families beyond treatment. This year Hyundai Hope on Wheels will surpass a lifetime total of more than 1,500 research and programmatic grants awarded to over 175 medical institutions. The organization funds four categories of grants at eligible Children's Oncology Group (COG) member institutions, strengthening care and outcomes for children with cancer. As part of its expanded survivorship focus, the organization is advancing initiatives that support long-term care coordination, access to medical records, and telehealth services for survivors, Looking ahead, the organization is expanding its commitment globally, scaling its efforts to reach pediatric cancer communities around the world and ensuring progress for children wherever they live. National Youth Ambassador Spotlight: Isabella Franco-Capps Isabella Franco-Capps, a 10-year-old from Athens, Georgia, was named the new National Youth Ambassador after a nationwide search. This year, Isabella will join Jackson Trinh to visit children's hospitals and raise awareness for pediatric cancer research. Jackson will serve as ambassador from 2025 to 2027, while Isabella will serve from 2026 to 2028. Learn more about their stories on the Hyundai Hope on Wheels website. Hyundai Hope on Wheels National Youth Ambassadors Isabella Franco-Capps and Jackson Trinh are photographed on Feb. 28, 2026. (Photo/Hyundai) Hyundai Hope on Wheels will formally award grants to children's hospitals across the country later this year. The grant presentations will conclude in September, coinciding with National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, during which the organization will convene its partners in Washington, D.C. to commemorate its 28th anniversary. Hyundai Hope on Wheels Hyundai Hope on Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope on Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing critical research aimed at improving treatments and saving lives. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country. Primary funding for Hyundai Hope on Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 855 U.S. dealers. In 2026, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will reach a lifetime donation total of $303 million in support of more than 1,500 childhood cancer research grants to over 175 hospitals and research institutions. SOURCE Hyundai Hope on Wheels Home News James Talarico calls Jesus 'barefoot rabbi,' demands federal land leases for abortion in resurfaced video Talarico to face off in November against winner of GOP runoff Texas state Rep. James Talarico, who recently won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, once advocated for federal land leases to abortion providers and referred to Jesus as a barefoot rabbi, a phrase that appears on his Senate campaign site. In a 2022 address delivered at the Texas Democratic Convention in Dallas, Talarico, a Presbyterian seminary student and former public school teacher, blended personal stories of resilience with a forceful call for Democrats to confront what he described as an existential threat to democracy. He invoked his experiences teaching on San Antonios West Side, his mothers escape from domestic abuse, and Texas Democratic icons to urge aggressive action against Trumpism and fascism. Talarico lambasted national Democratic leaders at the time for what he called a lack of resolve in contrast with Texas Democrats scrappiness, exemplified by political figures like former President Lyndon Baines Johnson, state Sens. Barbara Jordan and Wendy Davis, and former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke. The Democratic Party is the only thing standing between this country and fascism, yet the most our national party leaders can muster is spineless talking points and soulless fundraising emails, he said. National Democrats, you know, the ones who fly into Texas to fundraise and then dont spend a penny of that money in our state. They dont know how to fight. He urged then-President Joe Biden, whom he said saved our nation from President Donald Trump following the 2020 election, to once and for all restore its soul by defeating Trumpism. We need you and our nations leaders to start using every tool in the toolbox to protect our freedom. Lease federal land to abortion providers, declare a public health emergency, impeach justices who lied under oath, prosecute Trump and his fellow insurrectionists, and finally, call the filibuster what it is a Jim Crow relic thats standing between the American people and cheap prescription drugs, universal pre-K and a livable planet. In his speech, Talarico framed the political fight in explicitly Christian terms, referring to Jesus as a barefoot rabbi who gave two commandments: love God and love neighbor. A review by The Christian Post of Talaricos campaign website found additional references to Jesus as a barefoot rabbi. CP reached out to Talaricos campaign for comment on Tuesday. The 2022 speech, which Talarico has echoed in his current Senate campaign materials emphasizing a top versus bottom divide and the need to flip tables of injustice, has resurfaced following his victory over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, in the March 3 Democratic primary. He now awaits the winner of the May 26 Republican runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton. In a March 13 interview on Fox News The Brian Kilmeade Show, Trump took aim at Talaricos campaign, calling the candidate whacked out with his six different forms of gender. The president appeared to refer to a 2021 statement by Talarico in which he said God is both masculine, feminine and everything in between. Calling Talaricos statement an insult to Jesus, Trump added, He is so woke. Hes beyond woke. When you see what this guy said about gender and about other topics While Trump has backed off an earlier pledge to endorse in the May 3 runoff vote between Cornyn and Paxton, he called Talaricos defeat of Crockett good news for either candidate. Home News Judge rejects IRS agreement to let pastors endorse political candidates A federal judge has rejected an agreement between the Internal Revenue Service and a group of Christian ministries not to enforce federal law in a way that prevents churches from endorsing political candidates from the pulpit. In an opinion and order issued Tuesday in the case of National Religious Broadcasters et al. v. Scott Bessent et al., U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker of the Eastern District of Texas said he could not approve the proposed relief because of the Tax Anti-Injunction Act and the Declaratory Judgment Act. The National Religious Broadcasters and two churches filed a complaint in 2024 seeking to stop the federal government from enforcing the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 law that prohibits some nonprofit entities from engaging in political activity and making political endorsements. Barker, a Trump appointee, cited an earlier court case that ruled that DJA prohibits courts from providing declaratory relief with respect to federal taxes, adding that both parties consent was not sufficient. Subject-matter jurisdiction is determined by the nature of the claims and parties in the operative complaint, not by consent during litigation, wrote Barker. The DJA and AIA apply here because plaintiffs claims are in respect to taxes and seek to restrain the threat of tax collection or assessment based on certain activity. The government cites no authority for its position that its own consent to an injunction regarding a condition for tax benefits creates jurisdiction that the AIA or DJA otherwise denies. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins denounced the order, saying in a statement he believes Barker regrettably, sidestepped an opportunity, on the 250th anniversary of our nation, to correct a wrong that strikes at the very heart of American freedom. Fortunately, [the NRB] plans to appeal this decision to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and they will have the full support of Family Research Council in that effort, he tweeted. Americans United for Separation of Church and State President Rachel Laser released a statement celebrating the order, saying she was glad that the Johnson Amendment will remain a strong bulwark to stop religious extremists from exploiting houses of worship. Tax-free giving to charities should fund charitable work, not partisan politics, she added. The court was right to reject the administrations attempt to use the courts to rewrite our laws. In recent years, some Christian conservatives and churches have pushed to remove the Johnson Amendment, arguing that the federal regulation unfairly restricts the First Amendment rights of houses of worship. The National Religious Broadcasters, along with Intercessors for America, Sand Springs Church and First Baptist Church Waskom in Texas, filed a complaint in August 2024 seeking to have the amendment struck down. As the litigation continued, the IRS announced in July that it agreed not to strip tax-exempt status when pastors and other religious leaders endorse political candidates to their congregations. Last November, oral arguments were heard on whether the consent decree should be adopted. Home News Pastors split on deportations but most support path to citizenship: poll Most Protestant pastors in the United States support legal immigration, establishing a path to citizenship for some immigrants in the country illegally and refugee resettlement, but they are divided on the deportation and detention of illegal immigrants, according to a new survey. Lifeway Research released a new survey Tuesday, based on responses from 667 Protestant pastors collected Jan. 13 through March 4, documenting their views on immigration policy. The survey, sponsored by the Evangelical refugee resettlement organization World Relief, contains an error margin of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points. Pastors are largely united on principles of legislative reform, signaling they believe changes are needed in Americas immigration laws, Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell said in a statement. While they clearly want laws to be followed, they also find fault with the laws that are on the books. A majority of pastors (53%) described legal immigration as helpful to the U.S. and believed we should increase the number of legal immigrants approved in a year, while 35% said legal immigration was helpful to the U.S. and that we should maintain the current number of legal immigrants approved in a year. Ten percent said legal immigration was helpful to the U.S., but too high, and we should decrease the number of legal immigrants approved in a year. Just 2% of pastors viewed legal immigration as harmful to the U.S., while calling for a decrease in the number of legal immigrants admitted in a year. The remaining 1% also said legal immigration was harmful to the U.S. while supporting a complete halt to legal immigration. With the survey happening amid the Trump administration's law enforcement operations targeting illegal immigrants nationwide, pastors were asked about the current level of detention and deportation of illegal immigrants. A plurality of pastors (38%) said the current level of immigrant detention and deportation is too high and should be reduced, while 24% said, the current level of immigrant detention and deportation is right and should be sustained. Eighteen percent of respondents said, The current level of immigrant detention and deportation is too low and should be increased further. Four percent said, No immigrants should be detained or deported. The majority of pastors supported prioritizing the deportation of two groups of illegal immigrants: individuals who have been convicted of violent crimes (89%) and individuals reasonably suspected to present a threat to national security (80%). Substantially smaller shares supported prioritizing deportation for illegal immigrants who arrived in the country in the past five years (30%), those unwilling to pay a monetary fine (27%), those who arrived between five and 10 years ago (15%), those who came more than 10 years ago (13%), those willing to pay a fine (8%), those brought to the U.S. as children (7%), those with at least one U.S. citizen child (7%) and those married to a U.S. citizen (3%). Overwhelming majorities of pastors support potential immigration legislation that respects the dignity of every God-given person (98%), protects the unity of the immediate family (94%), respects the rule of law (92%), ensures fairness to taxpayers (90%), guarantees secure national borders (89%) and establishes a path toward citizenship for those here illegally (78%). Eighty-two percent of respondents expressed support for legislation that increases border security and establishes a process to earn legal status and apply for citizenship. "While pastors are divided on the volume of deportations that should be taking place, they are more united on who should and should not be prioritized for deportation, McConnell said. More than 9 in 10 pastors rebuff the idea of dividing families or deporting those willing to pay a fine as restitution for not having legal residency. As the Trump administration has halted most refugee resettlement into the U.S. since taking office last January, pastors were asked which refugees should be prioritized for refugee resettlement this year. Eighty-four percent of pastors identified Christians who have fled persecution on account of their faith as an important group. Other groups that most pastors agreed should be prioritized include those fleeing persecution who already have family in the U.S. (70%), Afghans who assisted the U.S. government in the War on Terror (63%) and those who have fled persecution based on race and ethnicity (60%). Most pastors also supported prioritizing the resettlement of refugees fleeing war-torn countries such as Ukraine, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (57%), as well as those who have fled because of gang violence (51%). Fewer than half of pastors favored prioritizing those who have fled because of their political beliefs (46%) and non-Christians facing religious persecution (44%). Less than one-fifth of those surveyed supported prioritizing the resettlement of white Afrikaners from South Africa, a policy promoted by President Donald Trump last year. Only 2% of pastors believed that no refugees should be admitted to the U.S. at all. Overall, 81% agreed that the U.S. has a moral responsibility to accept refugees. World Relief Vice President of Advocacy and Policy Matthew Soerens referred to the Trump administrations suspension of all refugee resettlement early in 2025 and then its narrow reopening of refugee resettlement only for ethnically white individuals from South Africa as starkly out of touch with the views of both evangelical and mainline Protestant pastors. If they wanted to appeal to pastors, they would do well to prioritize other groups of refugees, such as those persecuted for their Christian faith, those seeking reunification with family members already in the United States and Afghans at risk because of their service to the U.S. military," Soerens said in a statement. Trump enjoyed strong support from the Christian community in the 2024 presidential election, with people of faith constituting an important part of his political coalition. Exit polling from the 2024 presidential election shows that Trump secured the support of 63% of Protestants and 82% of white Evangelical Christians. Trump also gained significant ground with the Latino vote in 2024, which advocates warn could be eroded in the 2026 midterms by the administration's immigration policies. When asked if they had any first-generation immigrants in their congregation, a plurality of pastors (32%) said their churches have just some, while 27% report having none that I know of. A quarter (26%) described their congregations as having practically none, while 9% said they had many at their church, and 6% led congregations where nearly all members are first-generation immigrants. Home News Psychologist hails SCOTUS ruling against 'conversion therapy' ban: 'Politicians have no business' A licensed clinical psychologist in California who helps clients with unwanted same-sex attraction and gender identity issues praised the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Chiles v. Salazar, which struck down a Colorado law banning so-called "conversion therapy" for minors. "I'm excited that the court chose to protect the constitutional rights of psychotherapists," Dr. Joseph Nicolosi Jr. told The Christian Post in a phone interview Tuesday, shortly after the high court's 8-1 ruling was announced. Nicolosi, who serves as president of the nonprofit Reintegrative Therapy Association and penned an amicus brief for the case last year, said he was pleasantly surprised by how lopsided the decision was. "We thought it would be a 6-3 decision, or perhaps a 7-2 decision; but not 8-1," he said. "So this is great. I think people are getting the message: politicians have no business telling people that their therapy goals are illegal." Nicolosi, whose state was the first of about two dozen to enact a conversion therapy ban for minors since 2012, argued in his amicus brief that such laws are vague and constitute viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment while hindering legitimate, evidence-based psychotherapy. He also noted the definition of "conversion therapy" has changed over the decades, and that state laws banning it "employ vague and overbroad language, creating an effect that deters therapists from engaging in evidence-based treatments and open discourse with clients." The brief drew a distinction between "conversion therapy" aimed at changing sexual attractions and therapy by which sexual attractions can sometimes be changed as a byproduct of processing trauma. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing the opinion of the court, echoed Nicolosi's concerns about the First Amendment, noting that the Colorado law was especially problematic because it attempted to regulate the talk therapy of Kaley Chiles, the Christian therapist who served as the plaintiff in the case. "Colorado's law does not just regulate the content of Ms. Chiles's speech. It goes a step further, prescribing what views she may and may not express," Gorsuch wrote. "While the First Amendment protects many and varied forms of expression, the spoken word is perhaps the quintessential form of protected speech. And that is exactly the kind of expression in which Ms. Chiles seeks to engage." Alone in her dissent was Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, whose appeal to "medical consensus" was dismissed by Gorsuch, who noted such supposed consensus "is not static; it evolves and always has." During oral arguments for the case last fall, Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned the purpose of the legal challenge, noting there had been no prosecutions and "no enforcement" of the law during the six years of its existence. Nicolosi told CP that Sotomayor's point ignores the intended effect of such laws, which is to intimidate therapists. "The laws are designed to be vague, broad and create a chilling effect," he said. "Their mere existence is enough to chill speech, whether or not someone is actually prosecuted." Nicolosi expressed optimism that the court's decision will liberate and embolden therapists to offer the services their clients seek. "It's not just about clients; it's also about therapists," he said. "There are many therapists who have been afraid to participate in this work because these bans have such a chilling effect. Now we may see more courageous therapists coming forward and helping this very underserved population of individuals who have unwanted sexual attractions." Nicolosi added that he hopes the ruling might also lead to a legal domino effect around the world, where therapists in countries such as Canada potentially face imprisonment for offering therapy that does not affirm homosexuality and transgenderism, even if the patient is a consenting adult seeking change. In Europe, some countries have effectively criminalized even "advertising" for so-called conversion therapy, which has prompted free speech concerns among Christians, especially. Matthew Grech, a 36-year-old Christian man, scored a legal victory in Malta on March 4 after being dragged into court repeatedly over three years for giving his testimony to a local media outlet about repenting of homosexuality because of his faith. "I hope other courts in different countries take notice and follow suit," Nicolosi said of Chiles v. Salazar. "The government shouldn't be deciding who gets treatment and who doesn't. The government shouldn't interfere in private client-therapist relationships by dictating what goals clients are prohibited from pursuing." During an interview with CP last December, Nicolosi said clients "deserve the right to pick their own therapy goals." He acknowledged that telling the truth about unwanted same-sex attraction and similar topics is an uphill cultural battle, but that some degree of change is possible for those who are willing. "I'm not talking about flipping a light switch. We're talking about rotating a light dimmer. We're talking about gradual shifts of varying degrees," he said. "No one can guarantee an outcome. No two people respond identically, but even a few degrees of shift can be very helpful to some people, and they deserve to know that this can be an option for them." Home News Robert Morris reflects on time in jail, asks for Cindy Clemishires forgiveness Hours after his release from the Osage County Jail in Oklahoma on Tuesday, following his completion of a six-month sentence for sexually abusing Cindy Clemishire for multiple years beginning when she was 12 in the 1980s, Gateway Church founder Robert Morris publicly asked for her forgiveness and reflected on the time he spent behind bars. In a statement shared with The Christian Post by his attorney, William B. Mateja, the Southlake, Texas, megachurch founder revealed that his time spent in jail helped him realize even more how wrong he was for abusing Clemishire. I want to speak directly to Cindy Clemishire and her family. What I did to Cindy decades ago was wrong. There is no other word for it, and there is no excuse for it. I am deeply sorry. I have carried the weight of that wrong for a very long time, and I am grateful genuinely grateful that the Clemishires had the courage to bring this into the light, Morris said in his statement. It is only in the light that things can truly be addressed and healed. Many years ago, I sought their forgiveness privately, and as Cindys father recently noted, he extended that grace to me a grace I did not deserve and have never taken for granted. I ask again, publicly, and sincerely, for the forgiveness of Cindy and her entire family. Whatever healing lies ahead for them, I pray for it with all my heart. Responding to Morris statement Tuesday, Clemishire told CP that she forgave Morris a long time ago and hopes his remorse following his time in jail is genuine. I forgave Robert Morris many years ago, and forgiveness is something I continue to walk out sometimes daily, as needed. Forgiveness, however, does not erase the truth of what happened or the lifelong impact it has had on me, she said in a written statement. His words today are, in many ways, what any victim would hope to hear. But it is still deeply disheartening that those words were not spoken directly to me and my family on October 2nd, when he stood before the court and pleaded guilty. That moment mattered, she continued. While I hope his statement reflects genuine remorse, I cannot know whether those words came from his heart or were carefully prepared for him. What I do know is this: what happened to me on December 25, 1982, when I was 12 years old, was not a relationship it was a crime. And it changed the course of my life forever. Morris was indicted in March 2025 on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child by a multi-county grand jury in Oklahoma in connection with his actions against the now 55-year-old Clemishire, who reported that Morris began sexually abusing her on Dec. 25, 1982, when she was 12, and continued with the abuse for four-and-a-half years after that. At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist. He pleaded guilty last October to accept responsibility, according to his attorney Bill Mateja. "He simply accepted responsibility for his crime from the mid-1980s and pled guilty. He pled guilty because he wanted to accept responsibility for his conduct. While he believes that he long since accepted responsibility in the eyes of God and that Gateway Church was a manifestation of that acceptance he readily accepted responsibility in the eyes of the law by virtue of his guilty plea," Mateja told CP in an earlier statement after Morris was sentenced. Morris, who was also ordered to pay $270,000 in restitution, still faces an ongoing defamation lawsuit from Clemishire along with Gateway Church. In her defamation lawsuit, which has been halted pending a mandamus review, Clemishire and her father, Jerry Lee Clemishire, are seeking more than $1 million in damages, alleging that Morris and Gateway Church leaders publicly mischaracterized the abuse she suffered as a consensual "relationship" with a "young lady" instead of the sexual assault of a child after the abuse was made public in 2024. The petition for mandamus review was filed on Nov. 14 by attorneys for Gateway Church and their independent elders John D. "Tra" Willbanks, Kenneth W. Fambro II and Dane Minor. It came after Dallas County District Court Judge Emily Tobolowsky rejected a motion from the church and elders to dismiss the Clemishires' lawsuit, citing the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, which holds that courts lack jurisdiction over matters of religion. In her statement to CP Tuesday, Clemishire insisted that Morris and Gateway Church profited from the mischaracterization of her abuse. For decades, a false narrative was allowed to exist one that minimized the truth and helped build a platform and following, while my life was left in pieces. That reality cannot be overlooked, she said. My healing journey is ongoing and will be for the rest of my life. But today is not just about me it is about truth being acknowledged, and about accountability finally taking place. She thanked Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, District Attorney Gayland Gieger, and lead investigator Kylie Turner for helping to bring Morris to justice. Their commitment ensured that what was hidden for so long was finally brought into the light, she said. My hope moving forward is that this case helps create space for other survivors to be heard, believed and protected and that the truth is never again rewritten at the expense of a victims life. In addition to seeking Clemishires forgiveness, the Texas megachurch founder also apologized to the Body of Christ for the damage he caused. I am sorry for the pain, the confusion and the damage that has come upon so many believers because of my actions. That is a weight I carry, and it is right that I carry it, Morris wrote. I have thought a great deal about what it means that this was brought to a legal resolution. At first, that was a hard thing to handle. But the more time I spent in that jail cell, the more clearly I could see that what the Clemishire family set in motion was an act of integrity, and that it gave me something I needed a moment of true reckoning in the eyes of the law, not just in my own heart or before God, Morris continued. It opened my eyes to things I had not fully seen. Morris also expressed thanks to the Osage County Jail staff for treating him with professionalism, fairness, and genuine decency, as they did for all inmates. He also expressed thanks to his support system, including his wife, Debbie. As I look ahead, I do not have a grand announcement to make about what comes next. What I have is gratitude for Debbie, for my family, for those who loved me when I was hardest to love, and for the mercy that I do not deserve but have been given, he noted. I intend to live quietly and with integrity, and to be the kind of husband, father, grandfather, and man who reflects that mercy in how he treats others. Scripture has always been my anchor, and it remains so now. The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians, Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows, he added. That verse has been with me through these months. The harvest from seeds I sowed long ago in sin was real, and it was just. But I believe equally in what follows that when we turn, and when we sow differently, a different harvest is possible. That is not wishful thinking. That is the promise of grace. I am counting on it, and I am committed to living up to it. Home News Supreme Court won't review 'Tiger King' murder-for-hire conviction The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the criminal case of Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, the "Tiger King" who is serving a 21-year prison sentence for a murder-for-hire plot. On Monday, the justices declined the petition to review the case, meaning Maldonado-Passages conviction will stand. The decision marks the latest development in the 63-year-olds ongoing legal efforts to overturn his conviction tied to a murder-for-hire plot against animal welfare activist Carole Baskin. Baskin and Maldonado-Passages rivalry gained public attention in 2020 after the airing of the Netflix documentary "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness." The series highlighted their feud, as Baskin accused Maldonado-Passage of abusing and exploiting wild animals. In April 2019, an Oklahoma jury found Maldonado-Passage guilty on two counts of hiring people to kill Baskin. Maldonado-Passage was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2020. In addition to the conviction for the murder plot, jurors also found the former zookeeper guilty of multiple wildlife-related offenses, including killing five tiger cubs, selling tiger cubs in violation of federal law and falsifying wildlife records. The "Tiger King" claimed in his appeal to the Supreme Court that the governments case on the murder-for-hire counts rested almost entirely on three cooperating witnesses Allen Glover, James Garretson and Jeff and Lauren Lowe whose testimony supplied virtually all evidence of criminal intent and interstate agreement. He further argued that no independent evidence demonstrated a completed murder-for-hire plot or actual interstate travel to carry out a killing. Maldonado-Passage alleged that the tigers he was accused of killing were "aged" and "diseased," asserting that prosecutors mischaracterized what he described as "humane euthanasia" as criminal conduct. Prosecutors said Maldonado-Passage offered $10,000 to an undercover FBI agent posing as a hitman to kill Baskin, according to The Associated Press. During a recorded meeting in December 2017, authorities say he told the agent, "Just like follow her into a mall parking lot and just cap her and drive off." Defense attorneys argued that Maldonado-Passage wasnt serious about killing Baskin. In 2022, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the trial court had improperly treated the two murder-for-hire counts as separate offenses during sentencing. The appellate court determined that the counts should have been grouped together, warranting a reduced sentence. A federal judge subsequently resentenced Maldonado-Passage to 21 years in prison. During the proceedings, Maldonado-Passage said to the judge, "Please don't make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free." At the time, he had begun treatment for early-stage cancer. His attorneys told the court that he was particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to his diagnosis of stage-one prostate cancer and an additional condition that compromised his immune system. Amy Hanna, an attorney for Maldonado-Passage, told the court that her client was not receiving proper medical care inside the federal prison system, arguing that a lengthy prison sentence is a "death sentence for Joe that he doesn't deserve," according to The Associated Press. Baskin, who attended the proceedings with her husband, told the judge that Maldonado-Passage "continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will" toward her. She claimed that, even though the former zookeeper is serving a prison sentence, she continued to receive "vile, abusive and threatening communications." The animal welfare activist also argued that the notoriety of the "Tiger King" due to the Netflix series made her more concerned about the potential threat he posed to her safety. Minneapolis-based luxury retailer recognized for redefining experiential retail NEW YORK, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MR Magazine, a division of Wainscot Media, will honor Minneapolis-based luxury retailer MartinPatrick 3 as the 2026 Retailer of the Year | Specialty Store at its annual MR Awards Dinner, to be held Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at Gotham Hall in New York City. The award is one of the highest honors in the menswear industry, recognizing excellence, innovation, and leadership in specialty retail. Inside MP3 Speed Speed Widely regarded as the most prestigious event in better menswear, the MR Awards celebrate leading retailers, brands, and industry visionaries. This year's dinner is expected to welcome hundreds of attendees, including top retailers, designers, and past Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame recipients. Selected by the editors of MR Magazine with input from across the menswear community, MartinPatrick 3 is being recognized for its distinctive approach to retailblending luxury apparel, fine jewelry, and interior design within a highly curated, service-driven environment. Located in Minneapolis' North Loop, the store has become known for its immersive client experience, a robust calendar of experiential events, and thoughtful brand partnerships that extend beyond the traditional retail model. "MartinPatrick 3 was selected not only for the exceptional store Greg and Dana have built, but for the values behind it," said Karen Alberg Grossman, Editor-in-Chief of MR Magazine. "They've created a rare kind of luxuryone without attitudewhere everyone feels welcome. And in a moment of hardship for their city, their focus was on supporting others. That speaks volumes about who they are." With more than 30,000 square feet of retail and design space, MartinPatrick 3 offers a carefully edited assortment of luxury menswear alongside in-house services including tailoring, barbering, and interior design. The store's integrated model allows clients to engage with fashion, home, and design in one cohesive, highly personalized environment. "At its core, MartinPatrick 3 has always been about creating a fully realized environmentone that reflects how our clients live, entertain, and experience design," said Greg Walsh, Principal & co-founder of MartinPatrick 3. "We've built the store as an immersive lifestyle destination where every detail contributes to the overall experience." "Our focus has always been on building long-term relationships with our clients and creating a sense of connection that goes beyond the transaction," said Dana Swindler, CEO & co-founder of MartinPatrick 3. "Being recognized by MR Magazine is an incredible honor for our team and the community that has supported us." About MartinPatrick 3 MartinPatrick 3 is a luxury lifestyle retailer and interior design studio based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Known for its curated mix of menswear, womenswear, fine jewelry, and home, the store delivers a highly personalized shopping experience rooted in service, design, and community. Through a robust calendar of events, exclusive brand partnerships, and an immersive retail environment, MartinPatrick 3 continues to redefine the modern luxury shopping experience. See Inside MartinPatrick 3: https://www.martinpatrick3.com/about Hear the Story Behind MartinPatrick 3: MartinPatrick 3: The Partnersh - Rise To More - Apple Podcasts Press Contact: Tony Serino Director of Marketing, MartinPatrick 3 [email protected] SOURCE MartinPatrick 3 greenbutterfly, Adobe Stock This content has been supplied by a commercial partner. Governance in the charity sector increasingly finds itself situated within a state of volatility with the world around us seemingly moving from one crisis to the next. This constant instability requires trustees to be ever-reactive to the changing environment around them. This change in the global environment requires a shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive strategies which enable charities to stay the course, rather than be constantly manoeuvring. This theoretical transition is underpinned by the Charities Act 2011, which establishes fiduciary duties requiring trustees to act with reasonable care and skill while prioritising the organisational mission of the charity above all other interests. It is clear that digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be an increasing part of all charities ecosystems, and as such, boards will need to build digital into their governance activities, adapting existing policies to recognise both the potential use-cases and risks associated with digital technologies. Under the recently revised Charity Governance Code, boards are explicitly tasked with ensuring they possess the necessary knowledge and experience to govern effectively in an environment defined by rapid technological change. The development of AI and complex digital ecosystems has transformed technology from an isolated operational variable into potentially being a core governance tool. Trustees are not required to possess proficiency in the workings of any digital technologies; rather, they must maintain a strategic comprehension of how these tools reshape the charitys risk profile. This represents a shift where technology serves as a golden thread interwoven through organisational values and operations, rather than the historic view of technology being a single area of risk, typically focused on potential data loss and cyber risks. Proportionality A critical aspect in modern governance is the principle of proportionality, which dictates that the level of board oversight must correspond directly to the scale and nature of the risks presented. The administrative use of AI generally presents a lower-risk profile compared to, for example, embedding automated systems into service delivery that directly impact upon beneficiaries. In high-risk scenarios involving automated decision-making, the trustees must be satisfied that the process is based on sound logic and has appropriate guardrails in place to bring in human oversight as and when risk hits a set level. Over the last few years, risk management has similarly evolved into a dynamic evolving process underpinning all decision-making, rather than a static annual exercise of updating the risk register and then filing it away until the next year. Current guidance dictates that boards must advance beyond the mere identification of gross risks to actively managing net risks through a rigorous analysis of mitigation and robust internal controls. This approach requires trustees to form a view on the level of appetite for the residual risk remaining after mitigating factors have been considered. Furthermore, contemporary risk assessment places a much higher level of overall risk on the potential impact rather than the likelihood, whereas in traditional models the impact and likelihood scores carried equal weighting. While larger entities may successfully navigate digital transformation with access to greater resources and the ability to bring in experts and professional assistance, smaller organisations often encounter cost and knowledge constraints that can lead to technological stagnation. Conversely, with the right blend of resource and risk appetite, those smaller charities can have the ability to move nimbly compared to larger more complex organisations and reap the rewards of innovation. In conclusion, the current evolution of charity governance is defined by the necessity of bridging the gap between advancing digital innovation and trustees appetite for change and risk. Trustees who avoid engagement with emerging technologies are not acting with prudence; they are potentially failing to fulfil their core governance duties. Effective leadership now demands a blend of traditional fiduciary responsibilities with a proactive approach to digital engagement. It is essential for boards to consider the potential use cases of digital technologies as well as adapting existing policies from a digital-first perspective, building in the benefits on offer while being aware of and mitigating where possible any potential risks. Andrew Roberts is a director at HaysMac Charity Finance is packed with practical articles and analysis of the latest financial trends, as well as in-depth briefings on technical and legal changes, and benchmarking surveys to help busy finance teams get value for money. Find more information here and subscribe today! is packed with practical articles and analysis of the latest financial trends, as well as in-depth briefings on technical and legal changes, and benchmarking surveys to help busy finance teams get value for money. Nick Waring, director of finance and resources at the DEC The Disasters Emergency Committee In 1963, a powerful cyclone hit Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), prompting Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera, then Ceylonese high commissioner in London, to make a public plea for help. In an interview with BBC News, Malalasekera urged the UK public to donate to the charity War on Want, according to a research paper by Suzanne Franks of City St Georges, University of London. Strategic Acquisition Strengthens MIDLAND's Position in Food Packaging and Expands Midwest Distribution Network WHEELING, Ill., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Midland, a leading provider of packaging, paper, and performance solutions, announced its acquisition of Wetoska Packaging Distributors, a family-owned specialist in food packaging materials and equipment based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. This acquisition enhances Midland's capabilities in the food sector by combining Wetoska's decades of expertise with Midland's nationwide distribution footprint and will deliver greater value to customers. MIDLAND + Wetoska Packaging Distributors Wetoska's roots trace back to the Tobin-Stahr Company, founded in 1958. In 1964, Tobin-Stahr hired former Chicago Bear Bob Wetoska to sell Dow Chemical's Saran S shrink meat bags to Chicago meat and cheese processors. Bob's efforts help grow vacuum packaging in the 1970s. In 1987, Bob purchased Tobin-Stahr and renamed it Wetoska Packaging Distributors. Under Bob's leadership, Wetoska delivered innovative food packaging solutions and transformed the food packaging industry. In 2001, Bob passed down the stewardship of the company to his five children. Steve Wetoska, President, along with Matt, Katherine, Alexis, and Victoria, continued the tradition of building innovative packaging products and custom solutions tailored to the most complex problems in the meat, fish, dairy, cheese, bakery, and snack markets. Today, Wetoska is recognized as a market leader in the food packaging sector. The acquisition aligns with Midland's growth strategy to expand its end-to-end packaging and supply chain solutions, particularly in high-demand end markets. This move will allow Midland to better serve food processors and manufacturers across the country, helping to fortify the U.S. food supply chain. Wetoska's operations will continue under the leadership of the Wetoska family, with integration efforts focused on delivering expanded products and capabilities to its customers. "We are thrilled to welcome Wetoska Packaging Distributors to the Midland family," said Mike Graves, CEO of Midland. "Wetoska's reputation for quality, innovation, and personalized service perfectly complements our commitment to helping customers produce, protect, and promote their products. This acquisition not only bolsters our food packaging expertise but also reinforces our dedication to delivering sustainable and efficient solutions that drive customer success." Steve Wetoska, President of Wetoska Packaging Distributors, added, "Joining forces with Midland represents an exciting new chapter for our team and customers. Midland's resources and national reach will enable us to expand our offerings while maintaining the high-touch service our customers have come to expect. We look forward to contributing to Midland's growth and continuing to support the food industry with best-in-class packaging solutions." About MIDLAND Midland is one of the nation's largest independent paper and packaging distributors, serving over 10,000 customers across a diversified set of industries. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and long-term partnerships, Midland's product portfolio is bolstered by its ability to provide comprehensive solutions through its value-added services including packaging design, equipment & automation, converting services, and performance marketing. Founded in 1907 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Midland operates on a national scale while maintaining a strong local service model. For more information, visit www.midlandco.com. About Wetoska Packaging Distributors Wetoska Packaging Distributors is a family-owned provider of food packaging materials and equipment, serving the food industry for over 60 years. Located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Wetoska specializes in customized packaging programs that emphasize quality, reliability, and service. Wetoska takes pride in working with its customers to meet the unique needs of their individual businesses. For more information, visit www.wetoska.com. SOURCE Midland A Christian charity has had its accounts frozen over concerns that it seriously understated its income and may have made unauthorised trustee payments. The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into the Gorgias Charitable Trust, registered in 2018, after raising serious concerns over financial information provided. It has frozen the charitys accounts and will now investigate whether the trustees have complied with their legal governance duties. The southwest London-based charity, whose general purposes are to advance the Christian religion and promote healthcare, declared it had no income the year after registering. Gorgias Charitable Trusts accounts for year to 31 December 2020 are more than 1,600 days overdue with all subsequent reporting years also not filed. The charity appears to have been operating and has seriously understated its income, the commission stated. Since [registering], it has failed to file any accounting information with the commission, which constitutes misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity. The inquiry will examine trustees compliance with their accounting and reporting, financial management and whether there has been any unauthorised private benefit to trustees or connected parties. If further regulatory issues emerge, the scope of the inquiry may be extended. Three trustees are listed on the charitys entry on the commissions website, all of whom were appointed in 2018. Gorgias Charitable Trust which operates in England, Wales and Scotland did not respond to requests for comment. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Shutterstock An LGBTI+ advocacy charity has announced that it will make one in four of its staff members redundant as part of a restructure. The Kaleidoscope Trust, a UK-based organisation which campaigns for LGBTI+ rights around the world, announced last week that it had proceeded with a restructure which had left it a smaller organisation. In its announcement, the charitys chief executive Alex Farrow cited pressures on the wider LGBTI+ movement and said it was having to navigate funding uncertainty alongside a complex political context. For this reason, the charity said it had taken a step back to look closely at how were structured across every role and responsibility. Farrow confirmed to Civil Society that the charity had proceeded with the reduction of its staff from 19 roles to 14. Painful but proactive decision In its announcement, the charity said its restructure was not simply a response to funding reductions, but was rather a moment to reset in the face of what it described as an unprecedented wave of attacks from anti-rights actors. Farrow told Civil Society: In the past year, around the world, weve seen new anti-LGBTI+ legislation, funding cuts to our movement, and growing restrictions on civil society. The environment in which we and our partners are operating has fundamentally changed. The changes weve made at KT are about making sure we are stronger and better prepared for what comes next. This was a painful but proactive decision to ensure we can continue to support global LGBTI+ organisations and withstand the challenges our communities face. Recent aid funding cuts According to the charitys most recent accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2025, it reported a total annual income of 2.5m and an annual expenditure of 2.6m. For the previous financial year ending 31 March 2024, it reported an annual income of 1.6m and an annual expenditure of 1.7m. In its 2024-25 accounts, the charity said it had received support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in the face of USAID funding being terminated in early 2025, threatening a number of the charitys partner organisations abroad. Farrow wrote in his introduction to the accounts: With new support from the UK's FCDO, we distributed over 600,000 in rapid response grants within weeks- providing vital support to organisations facing disruption. As a result, 2024-25 saw us award our highest-ever level of grants to global partners. Though this placed immense strain on our small team, I remain deeply proud of how we rose to the moment with care, compassion, and skill. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Allkind A local Mind charity has exited the national federation and rebranded as it plans to expand its services across London. West Central London Mind today revealed its new fully autonomous and independent identity as mental health charity Allkind. In its announcement, the charity said it would continue offering the same mental health services to its 22,000 beneficiaries and explore new possibilities for expanding community-based services across London. Simon Thompson, chief executive of Allkind, said: Right now, with mental health services being stretched, the demand for support has never been higher. We feel this is the right time for the organisation to spread our wings and fly alone, allowing us complete autonomy and greater freedom over our destiny. Looking ahead, we aspire to expand beyond the boroughs we currently work within and become a leading London-wide provider of mental health and wellbeing support. Delivering support with kindness is our credo, which is why our new name is perfect. As West Central London Mind, the charity had a total income of 7.71m in the year to March 2025, including 6.36m from 30 government contracts, and employed 143 people. According to its former website , the charity received less than 1% of its funding from the national Mind charity. The organisation dates back to the mid-1980s when local Westminster and Wandsworth Mind charities were formed, with the two organisations merging in 2015. It merged again with local Minds in Brent in 2017 and Kensington and Chelsea in 2024 to form West Central London Mind. Allkind did not say how much it spent on the rebrand but it worked alongside a B-Corp branding agency, which it paid from a development fund. Its new logo represents a circle of people with their arms up and the A for Allkind. National Mind: We wish them every success Lucy Dodd, strategic lead for Mind in London at the national charity, told Civil Society: West Central London Mind left the Mind network on 31 March. We wish them every success as they now move forward as a new independent charity Allkind. Local Minds across the capital will continue to support everyone who needs them through strengthened partnerships, creating a more connected and flexible approach to service delivery. We are committed to providing high-quality mental health support to people through their local Minds, whichever borough they live in. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter. More than a month into the United States and Israels bombardment of Iran, it is increasingly difficult to get reliable information about the wars toll. The Iranian regime has imposed a near-total internet blackout and continues to crack down on satellite services and VPNs, which reporters, activists, and others in Iran often use to circumvent government control. Journalists are working under foreign bombs and receiving menacing phone calls from the authorities, an independent Iranian journalist told Reporters Without Borders. This political pressure hasnt stopped with the war. On the contrary, it has intensified since the announcement of Khameneis death. Any reporting that does emerge from the country is especially valuable. Iranian authorities have allowed some foreign journalists in since the war began, including Fred Pleitgen of CNN and Dominic Waghorn of Sky News. But even with access, international journalists must operate under strict guidelines, and their work is heavily monitored. To better understand what we should make of the coverage coming out of Iran, I reached out to Sebastian Walker, an experienced foreign correspondent and independent documentary filmmaker who has been to Iran four times and whom I know from our time working together at Vice News. Most recently, Walker traveled to Iran with Adam Desiderio, his longtime reporting and directing partner, for Strike on Iran: The Nuclear Question, a Frontline film that aired in December. Produced in collaboration with the Washington Post, Bellingcat, and an investigative nonprofit called Evident Media, the documentary draws on rare on-the-ground access as well as in-depth forensic analysis. On Tuesday, Frontline aired an updated and expanded version of that investigation featuring new reporting and interviews on the latest strikes. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity. SB: For people who arent familiar with the process, what are the logistics of getting a visa to work as a foreign journalist in Iran? SW: Its complex to get a visa to report in Iran. There is a process that you follow that works through Irans different embassies or consulates around the world. International media does get access to Iran, but it doesnt function in the same way that it does in many other places that Ive worked in. Its a more obscure process of approval, and its not completely clear sometimes why an organization is granted permission to come at a certain time and why its not possible to go at other times. All journalists in Iran work in a tightly controlled environment, but Western journalists have a very specific set of restrictions they must follow. Can you talk about what thats like once youre on the ground? Sign up for CJRs daily email Essentially, you have to work with a government-affiliated production services company that provides a translator who accompanies you at all times. You are able to operate in a limited wayyou can ask to go to places, and they will sometimes agree and sometimes notbut theres certainly a relationship that that company has with the government, with Iranian authorities that ultimately make the final decision on what you can do. Your most recent trip was in the summer of 2025 for the Frontline documentary. You were transparent in the film about having government minders throughout your reporting. At one point, you show that they filmed you, and at another point, you asked them questions on camera about a location you were hoping to visit. Why do you think its so important to be clear about how youre being monitored? Its different from many other places that Ive worked in, and ultimately, it informs the reporting experience. Its not a completely authentic reporting experience if youre not allowed to go to certain places and see certain things. So this is something that is important to show the viewer. Thats why we decided to document that as part of this last trip. One thing I would add is that this last trip was at a very particular time. We were there less than three months after the Twelve-Day War, and we were one of the first American outlets to report from there, certainly one of the first to get outside the capital, Tehran. It was rare access that we got, and I think the extent to which we were monitored, the level of oversight, was probably greater than I have ever encountered on my previous reporting trips to Iran. That trip was much more intense than Ive previously experienced. The purpose of the film was to look at the impact of the US and Israeli bombing campaign on Irans nuclear program. Were you surprised by what you found? We started this investigation following Operation Midnight Hammer, and the questions of the extent to which that operation had set the program back was something we wanted to try to examine as much as we could. We knew that we would be limited in what we could see on the ground, so we partnered with the Washington Post visual forensics team, Bellingcat, and Evident Media. Using visual investigative techniques and analyzing satellite imagery, our reporting partners were able to complement what we were able to see on the ground. Combining those things is what the film does to try to get closer to answering the question of how much Irans program was set back by those strikes. On the ground, we were limited in what we could see. We were surprised to get inside, for example, the apartments of nuclear scientists whod been targeted by Israeli strikes. We were able to speak to family members of those assassinated nuclear scientists. But we were not able to get close to any of the key nuclear facilities that were hit by the US. So really the most surprising parts of it were from the conversations we had with senior leadership figures. We got to talk to the head of Irans atomic energy agency, the AEOI. And we also sat down with Ali Larijani, who was recently killed, but was head of the Supreme National Security Council and one of the most powerful leadership figures at the time. There has been some criticism of Western journalists who are willing to go to Iran despite the restrictions. Thats ramped up during this war. Someone from the State Department called CNNs recent visit straight up pro-Iran regime propaganda. Why do you think its still important to go even though youre being monitored while youre there? One of the most valuable parts of going is to get a direct conversation with Iranian leadership figures. Thats the situation where you can ask tough questions and have an authentic conversation as a reporter with somebody who is a key decision maker from the Iranian side. You cant do that without going there and sitting across from somebody. It cant be done remotely with the same impact. Theres tremendous value in being able to go and do that. I think we were the last American journalists to interview Larijani, and some of what he said to us during that interview resonates today. I think theres huge insight that you can get from speaking to somebody at the very top, and having a direct conversation in person is really kind of a basic journalistic principle that I think is important. Were you able to talk to everyday people while you were there? I know that most of them didnt want to be filmed, but did you get a sense of what the mood was like? We did speak to people, but I would say its a different kind of conversation from one I normally have as a reporter because our minder was right there. They know that we are an international media team. They know that were being monitored and closely watched by the translator we have with us. So I think that you dont get a completely honest or authentic viewpoint of what theyre feeling or going through. We had conversations with people at the site of strikes in downtown Tehran who were expressing anger toward the authorities for the fact that they had senior nuclear scientists living in a residential building. I think a lot of Iranians were surprised by those strikes last June. And what we saw happening in the months afterward, with people taking to the streetstheres a connection between what happened in those strikes and what we saw during those protests. But in our conversations as an American outlet working with a government-affiliated translator, theres a limit to how much authenticity there can be to a conversation like that. Youre working on an update to the Frontline documentary. What can you tell us about that? This story is changing every day. Its hard to keep track, in some way, of how quickly things on the ground are moving. We are updating the previous film to include everything thats happened with the latest attacks on Iran, and it also contains another conversation with Rafael Grossi, who is director general of the IAEA, the UNs nuclear watchdog, who we sat down with in the previous film, following the Twelve-Day War. We caught up with him again for an updated conversation on what his concerns are at this point in the conflict. Our reporting team, the Post, Bellingcat, and Evident Media have continued to report the story using satellite imagery to understand whats happening on the ground. And weve also filmed here in Washington, DC, trying to get answers from lawmakers and administration officials about the extent to which Iran posed an imminent threat. Data centers dont make headlines until something goes wrong. Then, suddenly, everyone notices. These huge facilities keep the internet working, cloud services running smoothly and AI programs going strong. They are some of the most important and valuable parts of our modern world, even though most people dont think about them much. Building one big data center can cost hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. The computers and equipment inside run all day and night, every single day, with almost no room for mistakes or breaks. Any stop in service can cause major problems. When something breaks, the problems start right away. A report by Emerson Network Power and the Ponemon Institute says the average cost of downtime for a major data center has climbed to $8,851 per minute, up 38% from 2010. Yes, thats per minute. At that rate, just a few hours offline can lead to losses as big as what some companies make in a whole year. A Loss That Never Stays Simple A data center can go down because of a fire, flood, power outage or a cooling system breakdown on a very hot night. These things sound scary, and they can cause real damage to the building or equipment. But physical fixes are often not the hardest part of dealing with the problem. As soon as the systems stop working, other losses pile up quickly, becoming a business interruption or extra expense. Companies that use the data center have contracts promising certain levels of service. When those agreements are broken, penalties kick in, customers demand compensation, reputations suffer and lawyers might even get involved. By the time everything is fixed and back online, the original damage to the building or machines might only be a small part of the total money lost. The extra costs from lost business and penalties can be much bigger. Real-world incidents show just how fast losses can spiral. Consider what happened to Delta Airlines in August 2016. An electrical equipment failure knocked out the airlines systems, grounding about 2,000 flights over three days. Delta was obligated to issue refunds to every affected passenger, and the cascading costs from cancelled flights, compensation, and recovery efforts, added up fast. The airline reported $150 million in total losses, more than 200 times the industrys average per-incident cost at the time. The physical cause was a single piece of failed equipment. The financial damage came from everything that followed. Getting everything running again is not easy or quick. Data centers use special high-power systems, custom-built equipment and unique cooling setups. These parts are not easy to find in a store. Even in normal times, it can take weeks or months to get them replaced. Right now, with so many new data centers being built for AI and cloud services, the wait times are even longer and there is high demand for equipment. While waiting, the costs continue adding up each minute the center is down. On top of physical problems, cyberattacks are becoming more common. Hackers can shut things down or cause damage digitally. Now, physical damage and online attacks often mix, making the situation harder to fix. Insurance policies from years ago were not written to handle these issues, so recovery gets even more complicated. The Coverage Is More Complicated Than It Looks Most people who own buildings know the basics of their insurance. But for data center owners, the basic coverage often is not enough. Regular property insurance policies usually do not cover data or digital information very well. Since most of the value in a data center is in the digital information (like servers full of important information), there can be big gaps in what gets paid for. Business interruption insurance has its own rules, like waiting periods before it starts paying, and specific ways to calculate losses. Insurers look closely at whether the operations team did everything possible to stop extra damage from happening. If the carrier thinks more could have been done, they might pay less or even deny the claim. The OVHcloud fire in March 2021 makes this point plainly. A blaze destroyed the companys SBG2 data center in Strasbourg, France, taking around 65,000 customers offline. OVHclouds IPO filing projected the expected cost at 105 million (roughly $122 million USD), while the companys insurers committed to covering 58 million of that figure. More than 140 customers subsequently joined a class-action lawsuit seeking more than 10 million in additional compensation. For any data center operator reading those numbers, the message is simple: having insurance is not the same as being covered. Without experts who know both the tech side of data centers and how insurance works, claims can take months or years to settle. Sometimes they end up with much less money than they need, or they get turned down completely. For anyone running a data center, those results are unacceptable, as the data center business depends on fast recovery. What Good Adjusting Actually Requires Dealing with a big data center claim requires someone who really understands what they do and the difficulty to get them running again. A good adjuster works with IT experts and repair teams to check the damage carefully. They make detailed records that show the full picture of losses, including exact calculations for business loss, prices for broken equipment, and extra costs to keep services running while repairs are underway. They will also need to explain clearly to the insurance company why a key part might take six months to arrive or why a quick temporary fix adds its own expenses and dangers. This kind of knowledge does not come from just doing regular insurance claims. It comes from people who have worked inside data centers and know the challenges. Get Ahead of It The smartest time to bring in a nominated adjuster is before a claim, during the policy buying or renewal process. That way, there is time to read the policy carefully, find any weak spots in coverage, and build a strong relationship with the data centers risk managers and operations team. When a real problem does happen, all that preparation pays off immediately. The nominated adjuster can move faster, with stronger paperwork and proof, and the whole claim process goes smoother, avoiding delays that cost even more time and money. Data centers are getting bigger and more complicated every year. The huge growth in AI, more cloud services, and all the new digital information being stored means we need more of these facilities, and they are becoming even more important. The problems and claims that come from them should get the same high level of skill and care from the nominated adjuster that went into designing and building them in the first place. In short, data centers are the quiet backbone of our connected world. When something goes wrong, speed and expertise matter. Working with a nominated adjuster helps organizations respond faster, minimize disruption and get critical operations back online with confidence. Murchek is an executive general adjuster with Sedgwick. He has more than 15 years of experience handling major and complex property losses nationwide. His expertise spans commercial property, builders risk, boiler and machinery, inland marine, equipment breakdown, earthquake, catastrophe and residential property claims. Hailstorms drove record insured damages as severe convective storms become more common and damaging, popping up in new placesand even storms producing small hailstones are posing unforeseen threats, a new report shows. An Allianz Commercial report out this week shows the frequency and intensity of SCS events continue to increase, pushing global insured losses into the billions of dollars. The risk report examines the growing SCS threat, which can come with little to no warning and pose knock-on effects like flash flooding. According to Alllianz, SCS events amounted to $60 billion last year, or nearly half of all insured natural catastrophe losses. Related: US Home Insurance Prices Set to Keep Rising With Severe Weather SCS losses for the last three years total $208 billion in todays dollars, exceeding long-term averages. In 2025, these storms were 1.3 times as high as the 10-year average, and U.S. insured losses from SCS events were 1.4 times as high as the average for the 10 years from 2015 to 2024, the report shows. More insurers lately are turning out reports with an eye on mounting losses from SCS events and secondary perils. A Swiss Re Institute report out last week shows that SCS events, as well as floods and wildfires, drove a record 92% of total global natural catastrophe insured losses of $107 billion in 2025. Gallagher Re in January issued a report showing that SCS events drove at least 47% of insured losses. It states that in 2023, 2024 and 2025, SCS events cost global insurers $208 billion, making the peril a dominant annual loss driver for the industry. According to Allianz, the most significant SCS losses are from hailstorms, which account for as much as 50% to 80% of all losses. The next biggest loss driver is damaging winds, such as tornadoes and derechos. I would say that the losses that have resulted from severe convective storms have increased so much over the last five to 10 years, that it kind of caught a lot of people by surprise, said Andrew Higgins, technical manager Americas at Allianz Risk Consulting. In the past, those losses have been manageable and certainly had fallen below the hurricane losses, typhoon losses, things like that. But now theyve reached a point where theyre comparable with some of the other perils. What has also been surprising is the rapid escalation of hail losses, with hailstorms wreaking havoc in more areas. What were seeing now is that the hail losses are at the biggest component of our severe convective storm losses and its interesting that we see how losses are occurring in regions that we really havent seen before in the past, he said. Related: Moodys: LA Wildfires, US Catastrophes Drove Bulk of Global Insured Losses in 2025 In the U.S., drier conditions in the Great Plains have shifted Tornado Alley eastwards into the Southeastern states, which have seen an increase in the number of days with conditions favorable to tornadoes. Additionally, a warmer climate with stronger updrafts is expected to produce more of the largest hailstones, with the most damaging projected to increase by broad range of 15% to 75% in frequency, depending on climate scenarios, according to the report. Munich Re has also noted the frequency of SCE events accompanied by hail appears to be increasing in Europe. The report identifies the most expensive drivers of hail claims as damage to aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants and renewable power. For Don Giuliano, with Canopy Weather, a weather technology firm serving the insurance and restoration industries, the report confirms a trend hes been watching for a while. The Allianz report reinforces that severe convective storms are no longer a secondary risk, and their losses now rival major perils such as named storms, Giuliano said. Hail is a primary driver of that shift, often accounting for the majority of losses as exposure grows in developed areas. It also aligns with the rise of so-called kitty-cats, where frequent, lower-severity events aggregate into large, material losses for the industry. Hailstones vary in size from small pellets to the size of grapefruits. The report breaks down the sizes of hailstones and perils posed: The accumulation of smaller hailstones can cause roof or building collapse if building designs cannot withstand the extra load. Medium-sized hailstones (0.2 in. to 1 in.) can harm crops, fruit and glass. Larger hailstones (1.2 in. to 2 in.) can break roofing materials and damage vehicles, and extremely large hail (3 in. to 4 in.) can inflict severe structural damage. While bigger hailstones have a higher velocity and more kinetic energy that usually results in severe damage, Higgins said he has been seeing severe losses more often in which small hailstones bring the potential of secondary perils, for example clogging roof drains so water pools and collapses roofs. I would imagine most building codes in the world generally did not account for hail blocking the drains resulting in ponding of water, resulting in collapse of the roof structure, so were seeing some unusual losses as a result of hail, he added. Geoffrey Conrad, a 20-plus year claims professional who has spent much of his time training adjusters, sees secondary perils and increased damage potential from small hailstones as particularly concerning because of changes occurring in the adjuster profession. The industry is shifting away from the field adjuster model and moving toward desk, and thats just going to open up a whole issue where, as the size of the hailstone gets smaller, thats where a lot of the damage is not necessarily seen by the untrained professional, and a lot of damage will be missed, Conrad said. Also, as they age out a lot of these veteran adjusters that are trained to identify hail damage, I think we will see a lot of issues of missed damage estimates. Because even with decent sized hail, newer adjusters tend to miss a lot of the collateral damagehail is not selective, hail is going to damage the roof, its going to damage the siding, its going to damage the fence and even the mailbox. According to the Allianz report, roofs and roof-mounted equipmentheating, air-conditioning (HVAC) units, solar panelsare the most commonly damaged parts of a building when hailstorms or high winds strike. The largest losses typically come from leaks on a roof that result in water damage in premises below, or a power outage that causes business interruption. The report points to more risk from hail in the future based on projections that point to from a changing climate and warmer world in which extreme weather becomes more commonplace. As climate change influences weather patterns, the frequency and intensity of hailstorms may increase, leading to more frequent claims and heightened risk exposure for insurers, the report states. Top photo: Hail lies on a sidewalk and drifts on a flooded street in Augsburg, Germany, Saturday Aug. 26, 2023. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP). NEW YORK, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Oak Hill Capital ("Oak Hill"), a thematic, middle-market private equity firm, announced that it has partnered with Guild Garage Group ("Guild" or "the Company"). Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Guild is a coalition of leading residential garage door service providers, focused on essential maintenance, repair, and replacement services. With over 500 certified technicians and 28 local brands across 30 states, Guild is distinguished by the local market leadership of its high-quality brands, strong management team and multi-pronged playbook that enables "best-in-class" customer service. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Oak Hill Capital announces that it has partnered with Guild Garage Group. Post this Formed in 2024, Guild is an alliance of garage door repair and replacement businesses. Guild allows owners to maintain operational autonomy of their businesses while benefiting from the value creation playbook and scale benefits of the broader Guild platform. (PRNewsfoto/Guild Garage Group) "We are thrilled to be partnering with Tim O'Reilly and the rest of the Guild management team," said Steve Puccinelli, Managing Partner at Oak Hill. "Guild is a premier platform with a culture rooted in employee ownership and alignment. We are excited to support and assist in accelerating the Company's multi-faceted growth strategy in the years ahead." "Guild Garage Group represents the future of home services, blending a tech-forward approach with a leadership style that truly puts partners and employees first," said Jeff Mettam, Principal at Oak Hill. "Oak Hill and Guild share a belief that the best way to build a business is by empowering the local teams who serve our customers every day. We look forward to matching the passion of the management team to help Guild's partner operators realize their visions." Guild's management and local brand operators will continue to be significant owners of the business going forward. Tim O'Reilly, CEO of Guild, said, "Partnering with Oak Hill fortifies the next chapter for Guild Garage Group. With the incredible support of our founders, Joe Delaney, Jordan Dubin, and Sean Slazyk, we have built one of the strongest operating partnerships in the Garage Door industry by enabling local owners and brands with robust resources to grow. Our partnership with Oak Hill not only supercharges our mission to accelerate positive change for the partners, employees, and families we serve, but opens the door to new resources that should deepen our position as a market leader for years to come. Given our cultural similarities, passion for the industry, and strong alignment for growth, we look forward to a long and successful future of building Guild together." In a joint statement, Co-Founders Joe Delaney, Jordan Dubin, and Sean Slazyk, noted, "The creation of Guild was truly a group effort, and we are eternally grateful to all the individuals who helped play a role in Guild's formation. Guild's relationship-based, partnership-centric model aligns perfectly with Oak Hill's investment philosophy. With the support from Oak Hill, we are confident in Guild's ability to continue expanding and delivering industry-leading customer service to both new and existing communities across the country." Piper Sandler & Co. acted as financial advisor, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal counsel to Guild. Goldman Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisor, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel to Oak Hill. The investment in Guild is the tenth investment in Oak Hill Capital Partners VI. About Guild Garage Group Formed in 2024, Guild is an alliance of garage door repair and replacement businesses. Guild allows owners to maintain operational autonomy of their businesses while benefiting from the value creation playbook and scale benefits of the broader Guild platform. More information is available at www.guildgaragegroup.com. About Oak Hill Capital Oak Hill Capital is a thematic, middle-market private equity firm focused primarily on investing in resilient, defensive growth-oriented services businesses in North America. The firm takes a systematic approach to identifying and building enduring franchises aligned with high conviction themes in (i) digital infrastructure; (ii) financial services; and (iii) essential services. Headquartered in New York City, with offices in Menlo Park and Stamford, over its ~40-year history, Oak Hill has invested in over 115 companies and has raised over $25 billion of initial capital commitments and co-investments since inception. For more information, please visit: www.oakhill.com. Contact: Bennet Crosby, [email protected] SOURCE Guild Garage Group Longtime operator succeeds Co-Founder Zac Bookman as company scales its Public Service Platform SAN FRANCISCO, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenGov, the leader in AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments in the U.S., today announced the appointment of Thiago Sa Freire as chief executive officer. Sa Freire succeeds Zac Bookman, who will transition to co-founder & chairman emeritus and continue to support the company's long-term strategy and mission. OpenGov Co-Founder & Chairman Emeritus Zac Bookman and CEO Thiago Sa Freire, marking the companys next chapter. Sa Freire, who currently serves as president and chief operating officer of OpenGov, has been instrumental in scaling the company's operations, expanding its product portfolio, and deepening its impact with government customers nationwide. Under his leadership, OpenGov has accelerated its evolution into the Public Service Platform, helping more than 2,000 agencies operate with greater transparency, efficiency and accountability. "Thiago is the right leader for OpenGov's next chapter," said Bookman. "He brings a deep understanding of our customers, a strong operational track record, and a vision for how technology can power more effective and accountable government. I've had the privilege of building this company from the ground up, and I'm confident Thiago will take it even further." "I'm honored to step into the role of CEO at such an important moment for OpenGov and the communities we serve," said Sa Freire. "Our vision is high-performance government for every community, and our north star is making customers successful. This vision matters deeply to me because of the impact our customers have on their communities every day. We're focused on helping them operate more efficiently and deliver better outcomes." Bookman founded OpenGov in 2012 with a mission to power more effective and accountable government. Under his leadership, the company grew into a category-defining platform serving thousands of governments nationwide. In 2024, Cox Enterprises acquired majority ownership of OpenGov, accelerating product development and expanding the company's impact. Today, one in three Americans access digital services through the OpenGov Public Service Platform. "Building OpenGov has been the honor of a lifetime," added Bookman. "What started as a belief that government deserves better technology has become a platform that powers critical services for communities across the country. I'm proud of what this team has built and excited for what comes next." "When we invest in a company like OpenGov, we are betting on the people and the problem they are solving," said Shereta Williams, executive vice president at Cox Enterprises. "Zac envisioned modern technology that transforms government and the communities they serve, and Thiago has been instrumental in bringing that vision to life since he joined in 2022. His leadership gives us tremendous confidence in what is ahead. This is exactly the kind of long-term partnership Cox is proud to be a part of." Sa Freire brings more than a decade of experience building and scaling high-growth technology companies. Prior to OpenGov, he was chief revenue officer at Chorus.ai, where he helped drive significant growth and led the company through a successful acquisition. He previously held senior leadership roles at Hudl, Oracle and Responsys. The leadership transition is effective April 1, 2026. ABOUT OPENGOV OpenGov is the leader in AI and ERP solutions for local and state governments in the U.S. More than 2,000 cities, counties, state agencies, school districts, and special districts rely on the Public Service Platform to operate efficiently, adapt to change, and strengthen public trust. Category-leading products include enterprise asset management, procurement and contract management, accounting and budgeting, billing and revenue management, permitting and licensing, and transparency and open data. These solutions come together in the OpenGov ERP, allowing public sector organizations to focus on priorities and deliver maximum ROI with every dollar and decision in sync. Learn about OpenGov's mission to power more effective and accountable government and the vision of high-performance government for every community at OpenGov.com. SOURCE OpenGov, Inc. Albany Times Union/hearst Newspapers | Hearst Newspapers | Getty Images Artificial intelligence may be the future of customer service, but some early consumer reviews suggest that, at least for now, you should prepare to be annoyed. AI-powered chatbots can act as virtual concierges steering wayward customers to the right resolution, but many customer service chatbots still deflect rather than resolve issues. Outright request refusals or sending customers into a maze of AI-powered ambiguity that leaves them too exasperated to continue a complaint are still common in the chatbot playbook. "I hate AI customer service chatbots," said Carmen Smith of Campo, California, who said she often ends up in an endless loop when dealing with the technology. "It seems that no matter what, they all will either point you to some type of FAQs list or repeat information you've already tried and found lacking," Smith said. "I hate dealing with them, but a lot of companies use them nowadays, alas. I'd rather speak to a human being." Smith is not alone. Nearly one in five consumers who have used AI for customer service saw no benefit from the experience, according to the Qualtrics 2026 Customer Experience Trends Report. That figure a failure rate almost four times higher than for AI use in general points to something specific about customer service that makes it harder for AI to get right. Consumers rank AI applications for customer service among the worst for convenience, time savings, and usefulness. "Too many companies are deploying AI to cut costs, not solve problems, and customers can tell the difference," said Isabelle Zdatny, head of thought leadership at Qualtrics XM Institute and the author of the report. There's a simple business reason why the experience for many customers has not been a positive one. "AI doesn't change corporate incentives it scales them," said Ben Wiener, global head of Cognizant Moment, the digital experience practice of global technology and consulting firm Cognizant. 'Relentlessly optimize' Companies have always shaped customer service around what they measure and what they reward. Inside many customer contact centers, human agents operate within tightly scripted flows designed to limit discretion. In others, brands empower employees to do what it takes to keep customers happy. "If leadership prioritizes minimizing refunds, reducing escalation to humans, or shortening call times, you can expect AI agents to reflect that philosophy in the experience in the same way a human agent would. These were always business choices, and AI systems will enforce those choices too," Wiener said, adding that AI can do it more consistently and at higher volumes. "AI will relentlessly optimize whatever metric it is given," Wiener said. "Businesses need to be explicit about what outcomes they want their AI systems to prioritize, because those systems will deliver exactly what they are trained and measured to achieve," he added. "What bothers them is automation that traps them in a loop," said Shannon McKeen, professor of practice and executive director of the Center for Analytics Impact at Wake Forest University School of Business. Research on support automation shows that many conversations with AI still eventually escalate to humans. But when systems cannot resolve the issue or clearly explain a decision, customers often experience the AI layer as an additional barrier rather than a solution, McKeen said. watch now Deflection has its advantages for humans that work in customer service. According to Terra Higginson, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group, AI deflection is justified when it is used to protect workers in jobs that have high burnout rates and turnover, and are associated with mental health issues. And in some cases, saying no is the right decision. "If two people are arguing about a refund and the law says it is not available, a judge would adjudicate rather than argue continuously back and forth. That is often what happens in agent-to-unhappy-customer scenarios," Higginson said. "This makes the process about enforcing rules and regulations rather than making refunds difficult," Higginson said, adding that AI can enforce rules consistently across the board in a way humans may not be able to do, "without the arguing and back-and-forth strain of being yelled at for following company rules." Making legitimate refunds hard to secure, on the other hand, is just bad business, and always has been. "That is obstruction, not service," Higginson said. It is an especially bad business model in a competitive market where digital opinions can spread quickly through forums and social media, Higginson added. Consumer-facing chatbots are here to stay Tom Eggemeier, CEO of Zendesk, says too many companies define "resolved" interactions in ways that includes deflections and non-answers. Zendesk only counts a resolution if the customer, the business, and the employee all agree the problem was actually solved. "AI is a means, not an end," Eggemeier said. One solution that he thinks is likely in the not-too-distant future is for consumers to have a personal AI agent to deal with company chatbots, allowing the AIs to duke it out to resolve low-level issues. Consumers may need the help. Eggemeier estimates that within three years, 50 percent of digital customer service interactions will be handled by AI and that will rise to 80 percent within five years. Jesse Zhang, CEO of customer service chatbot creator Decagon which tripled its valuation to $4.5 billion in a recent funding round after it signed over 100 enterprise deals in 2025 across consumer-facing industries says that companies aiming to deflect customers will lose money in the long run. "We have not come across a single customer with the intention of deflection," Zhang said. "People are very aggressive about optimizing for resolution," he added. Sierra, the conversational AI platform founded in 2023 by former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and ex-Google executive Clay Bavor, says that its business model uses "outcomes-based pricing" and it thinks that is a key way to approach these new interactions. "If we are not resolving the issue, if it doesn't work for customers, then it doesn't work for us," said a Sierra spokeswoman. Zhang conceded that from the customer side there can be subjectivity around the topic, and one person's resolution is another's deflection. But he said it is a company's job to have AI that is smart enough to make a judgment call. "You can't say no to everything, you can't say yes to everything. You want to have a solution," Zhang said. What there should never be is a dead end, but rather, an "escalation path" for customers who aren't getting what they need from AI answers. watch now A Baidu Inc. Apollo Go autonomous driving electric vehicle displayed at the International Automotive and Supply Chain Expo in Hong Kong, June 12, 2025. Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxis reportedly stopped mid-traffic, trapping passengers and resulting in highway collisions on the streets of the Chinese city of Wuhan on Tuesday, according to videos shared on social media. The incident was confirmed by a statement published on the official Weibo account of the Wuhan local traffic police department, which acknowledged reports of multiple Apollo Go vehicles that stalled in the middle of a road. "Upon investigation, preliminary findings suggest system malfunctions as the cause of the incident," read the police department's statement in Chinese, translated by CNBC. The statement added that authorities had worked with Apollo Go staff to handle the initial situation, with the incident still undergoing further investigation. Passengers had safely exited the affected vehicles, it added. Chinese search giant Baidu , which owns and operates Apollo Go, did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Wuhan city is home to Apollo Go's largest robotaxi deployment in China, with more than 1,000 vehicles operating without human drivers. Baidu has invested in and ramped up its driverless ride-hailing unit much like its U.S. counterpart Alphabet has invested in and ramped up robotaxi service Waymo in the western part of the U.S.. Both have grown into leading robotaxi providers in an emerging industry that's recently tipped into the mainstream. Apollo Go also faces formidable competition from other Chinese autonomous vehicle makers in Asia, including WeRide and Pony.AI . Elon Musk's automaker Tesla is also developing driverless vehicles but is not yet operating a commercial robotaxi service outside of a limited pilot in Austin, Texas. Apollo Go already operates a commercial, driverless ride-hailing service in several major Chinese cities, including the entire city of Wuhan and the suburbs of Beijing. In its fourth-quarter earnings update for 2025, Baidu said Apollo Go driverless vehicles are now deployed or testing in 26 international cities. The Zhipu AI logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen. The firm reported a net adjusted loss of 3.18 billion yuan, up 29.1% from the previous year, as research and development spending increased. Zhipu said in its earnings report released Tuesday that its revenue rose about 132% to 724 million yuan in 2025 from the previous year, though that figure missed the mean analyst estimate of 760 million yuan, polled by Reuters. The Beijing-based company later pared gains to end the session 31.94% higher. Listed in Hong Kong in January after raising $558 million in an initial public offering, Zhipu was the first major pure-play AI model company in China, and arguably the world, to go public. Shares of Chinese artificial intelligence company Knowledge Atlas Technology JSC , better known as Zhipu, surged as much as 35% on Wednesday, after posting strong revenue growth in its first earnings report. Founded in 2019 by researchers from Tsinghua University, Zhipu recently released its latest GLM-5 model, which it said matched U.S. rivals on several key performance metrics. It has also been expanding its AI agent offerings. The company said over 4 million small and medium-sized enterprises and developers have collaborated with its products, which are available in 218 countries and regions. It also pointed to a recent nationwide frenzy to adopt the open-source AI agent OpenClaw, which has pushed token usage to new levels. Tokens are the basic units of text processed by AI models, with their volume reflecting computing demand and costs. Zhipu, a beneficiary of Beijing's AI push, said it plans to capitalize on that demand and improve the performance of its AI products. The company is considered one of China's so-called "AI tigers" startups building large language models to rival the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic making it a strong barometer for China's overall AI space. During an earnings call, Zhipu AI CEO Zhang Peng reportedly said the company was accelerating its use of domestic Chinese chips to meet a significant rise in computing demand since February, aligning with Beijing's push to develop its domestic semiconductor industry. The CEO's comments were notable as the firm's ability to train its AI models has previously been constrained by U.S. export restrictions, limiting its access to advanced semiconductor technology and expertise. Zhipu was also placed on the U.S. Commerce Department's Entity List in January last year over alleged links to China's military. Shares of MiniMax, a Chinese AI rival of Zhipu that also listed in Hong Kong in January, were up about 16% in trading on Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on March 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. Speaking of which, the president on Tuesday again lambasted European allies for not getting involved in the U.S.' war, telling the U.K. and France to "Go get your own oil" from the Iran-blocked maritime passage. The U.S. and Israel's military operation against Iran is just over a month old but there's a clear sense that war fatigue could be creeping in at the top, with Trump reportedly telling aides that he was willing to end the war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Global markets will be on tenterhooks today after the White House said that U.S. President Donald Trump will deliver an address "to the nation to provide an important update on Iran" late on Wednesday evening. Hello, this is Holly Ellyatt writing to you from London. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open. Pace yourselves if you want to listen in to President Trump's address on Wednesday giving an update on the Iran war it's set to take place at 9 p.m. ET that's 2 a.m. on Thursday London time. The address will be welcome news for markets and citizens worried about the potential duration of the conflict and endgame, with the president implying that both a peace deal and an escalation using U.S. ground forces could be in the cards. Trump said on Tuesday that he expected that U.S. military forces would leave Iran in "two or three weeks." "We leave because there's no reason for us to do this," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We'll be leaving very soon." He also seemed to dismiss the idea of having to reach a negotiated settlement to end the war, signaling that the U.S. could just declare victory and end hostilities. Global markets certainly like the idea of the war ending sooner rather than later: Asia-Pacific markets rebounded overnight while European bourses look set to rally at the open on Wednesday. U.S. stock futures also ticked higher on hopes that Trump is looking for an off-ramp to the war, which has sent global energy prices rocketing. Crude oil prices once again extended gains overnight. We'll have to wait and see what the president says later, but he'll be mindful that this war has never had much support from U.S. voters and the majority want him to focus on domestic matters 'America First,' remember? Speaking of voting, the president signed an executive order on Tuesday cracking down on mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in November. The move did not go down well with voting-rights advocates, who warned it could disenfranchise millions of Americans. It's April Fool's Day, so watch out for any news that seems too outlandish I know, it's getting harder these days. Holly Ellyatt KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation (the Foundation) recently established a $500,000 endowed scholarship in honor of Kansas City University (KCU) alumna Capt. Rebecca deVillers, MC, USN, DO. This transformative philanthropic investment was inspired by deVillers' recent recognition with the Star Spangled Medallionan honor bestowed by the KCU Alumni Association in recognition of her decades of service and leadership. Capt. Rebecca DeVillers, MC, USN, DO, pictured at the 2025 KCU Alumni Awards Additionally, the Foundation contributed a non-endowed $25,000 to ensure the first award can be made during the 202627 academic year. "The Foundation is grateful to our directors for their dedication to advancing our mission to improve health and quality of life through education, research and service consistent with our osteopathic heritage," said Terri Donlin Huesman, president and CEO of the Foundation. "We are pleased to recognize Dr. deVillers' years of service, leadership and commitment to osteopathic medicine and community health with the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Honor of Rebecca E. deVillers, DO." deVillers designed the scholarship with broad criteria so it can support any KCU osteopathic medical student. By keeping the requirements flexible, she hopes the fund will help students facing different challenges or opportunitiesreflecting her gratitude for the role osteopathic medicine has played throughout her career and her desire to extend support to future physicians. "Being an osteopathic physician has been one of the greatest blessings of my life," deVillers said. "Osteopathic medicine set me on a path that shaped everything that followed." Additionally, deVillers personally contributed $25,000 to the scholarship, bringing the total amount to $550,000. "My education at KCU opened every door for me," she said. "Supporting students ensures those doors remain open for others. If this gift helps even one student focus more on learning and less on financial stress, then it's worth it." KCU President and CEO Marc B. Hahn, DO, praised the Foundation and deVillers for their vision and generosity. "Dr. deVillers has devoted her career to caring for others, and service to our country. This scholarship extends that legacy to future osteopathic medical students," Hahn said. "We are honored by the Foundation's recognition of her remarkable service and deeply appreciative of the impact this investment will have on generations of KCUtrained physicians." deVillers is a retired board-certified family medicine physician. A 1976 graduate of the KCU College of Osteopathic Medicine, she earned her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University. She began her career as a naval flight surgeon and retired as a captain in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Navy in 2006. After military service, she continued her medical training at Doctors Hospital, followed by nearly four decades in private practice in central and southeastern Ohio. Before her recent retirement, she served in physician leadership for OhioHealth's southeastern Ohio market. Her service also includes leadership roles on the OhioHealth Doctors Hospital medical staff and on state and county developmental disabilities boards. She has served on the Foundation's Board of Directors since 2012. About Osteopathic Heritage Foundation The mission of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation is to improve the health and quality of life in the community through education, research and service consistent with our osteopathic heritage. The Foundation advances this mission through strategic partnerships, multi-year funding commitments, funding collaborations and significant investments in some of the most pressing health and social issues in the community. Learn more at www.osteopathicheritage.org. About Kansas City University Founded in 1916, Kansas City University (KCU) is a fully accredited, private not-for-private health sciences university with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Biosciences and Dental Medicine, and campuses in Kansas City and Joplin, Mo. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is the fourth-largest medical school in the U.S. and the leading producer of physicians in Missouri. It ranks #1 for producing physicians who practice in primary care, rural areas and underserved regions in the state. KCU's Center for Population Health and Equity addresses the variables that affect a population's health and contribute to health disparities, while better preparing students for professional practice. KCU offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine and clinical psychology and a master's degree in biomedical sciences. Concurrent degree offerings include master's degrees in business administration in health care leadership, public health, and bioethics. A new Master of Health Sciences Anesthesiologist Assistant program launched in January 2026. Contact: Haley Reardon Director of Communications 417-208-0664 (office) 417-592-2223 (cell) SOURCE Kansas City University Dave Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, speaks in the Oval Office during an event about weight loss drugs at the White House in Washington, Nov. 6, 2025. Eli Lilly opposes the White House's push to codify "most favored nation" drug pricing into law, CEO Dave Ricks said in an interview with CNBC. Lilly is one of more than a dozen drugmakers that signed deals with the Trump administration last year agreeing to charge similar prices for prescription drugs in the U.S. as in other wealthy nations. President Donald Trump has long complained that Americans pay high prices to subsidize low prices for medicine in the rest of the world. The pharmaceutical industry thought the agreements would pacify those concerns and thwart attempts to make "most favored nation" pricing the law. But the White House in recent months has pushed Congress to codify elements of the deals. The draft text hasn't been shared publicly, though the administration has said it's trying to get pharmaceutical companies to back the effort. Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. Stocks are rallying for the second straight session on optimism around an off-ramp to the war in the Middle East. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social early Wednesday that Iran's "New Regime President" asked for a ceasefire, but the U.S. is pushing for a complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the vital oil waterway. But at the same time, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Amazon's cloud computing operation in Bahrain was damaged by an Iranian strike. That comes on the heels of Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatening to attack U.S. tech companies with Middle East operations. We should get a better sense of the war's timeline Wednesday night, as Trump is scheduled to address the nation at 9 p.m. ET. The wait is over, and a new chapter in the GLP-1 boom is here. Eli Lilly announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved its once-daily GLP-1 pill for obesity. The drug, which carries the active ingredient orforglipron, will be marketed under the name Foundayo. Lilly said Foundayo will be made available through its online LillyDirect program, with prescriptions accepted immediately and shipping starting April 6. Broader availability in the U.S. through retail pharmacies and telehealth providers will follow shortly thereafter. In an anticipation of FDA approval, Lilly built up a stockpile of Foundayo to ensure it has plenty of supply to meet what's expected to be strong demand. After injectable GLP-1s soared in popularity in recent years, the introduction of oral versions is seen as a way to expand the market to needle-adverse patients. They could also play an important role as a maintenance therapies for people who started on weekly injectables. Lilly had guided for a second-quarter launch, and we are pleased to see this happen within the first week of the quarter, rather than the process dragging out longer. The market clearly agrees, as Lilly shares rallied about 5% Wednesday afternoon. Rival Novo Nordisk may have had the first mover advantage in the oral GLP-1 space and has the benefit of leveraging the same Wegovy name as its popular injectable version. Novo also argues the Wegovy pill generates superior weight loss than Lilly's pill, based on their respective late-stage obesity studies. However, Foundayo has no consumption restrictions on food, water and time of day. The Wegovy pill, by contrast, is supposed to be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Additionally, Lilly's pill bested oral Wegovy in a head-to-head study looking at their benefits to diabetes patients , including on weight loss. Lilly is also pursuing FDA approval to market the drug for diabetes. As of Wednesday, analysts currently forecast Foundayo to generate roughly $1.55 billion in sales this year, growing to about $14.8 billion in 2030, according to FactSet. DuPont completed the sale of its Aramids business within the timeline it provided last month. The divestiture of brands like Kevlar and Nomex to Arclin brought DuPont pretax cash proceeds of $1.2 billion, along with a $300 million note receivable and non-controlling common equity interest in Arclin valued at $325 million. Georgia-based Arclin is owned by private-equity firm TJX. With this cash windfall, we expect DuPont management to be on the hunt for acquisitions to boost its health-care business. The sale is part of DuPont's strategy to get out of slower-growing, cyclical and low-margin business to boost exposure to faster-growing end markets. With the right execution, portfolio transformations like this are rewarded with a higher price-to-earnings multiple. We remain bullish on cybersecurity and do not think the industry will be disintermediated by large language models (LLMs) and AI startups. Toy maker Hasbro became the latest company to disclose a cybersecurity incident that has interrupted its daily operations. As we learned from Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora last night on "Mad Money," bad actors will only get better and faster in the future because of " weaponized intelligence ." Arora believes AI models are powerful, but not effective as defensive systems, which is why he called on AI labs and LLM providers to partner with cybersecurity vendors to develop the security solutions of the future. There are no major earnings after the closing bell on Wednesday and before the opening bell on Thursday. On the economic data side, we'll see the monthly job cuts report from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, as well as the government's weekly jobless claims. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. FILE PHOTO: Bull and bear symbols for successful and bad trading are seen in front of the German stock exchange (Deutsche Boerse) in Frankfurt, Germany, February 12, 2019. Shares listed in Europe kicked off April's trading with a strong rebound, after notching their worst month since 2022. The regional Stoxx 600 finished the day 2.5% higher, with all major bourses and sectors besides oil and gas stocks in the green. Britain's FTSE 100 gained nearly 1.9%, while Germany's DAX ended 2.7% higher and France's CAC 40 gained 2.1%. The moves come after President Donald Trump said Tuesday that American forces would leave Iran in "two or three weeks," adding that the U.S. would end its war "whether we have a deal or not." Global benchmark Brent crude oil was 1.9% lower on Wednesday, trading at around $101.97 per barrel as markets digested Trump's comments. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were last seen trading 1.6% lower at $99.79. Asian stocks traded higher on Tuesday, while U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday. Trump is due to address the United States at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday. In corporate news, Danish wind energy developer Vestas announced overnight it had received a 135-megawatt order in the U.S. for an undisclosed project. It came hours after the company said it had received a 90-megawatt order in the United Kingdom. In a note sent Wednesday morning, analysts at Citi gave Vestas a buy rating and said the wind giant's first-quarter order intake now totaled 4.2 gigawatts. "With signs of market improvement in Germany, and initial evidence of a US up cycle, we think orders can continue to build from here, driving better than expected growth," they said. Rightmove shares dipped upon the news that the property listing portal is facing a 1.5bn class action lawsuit from estate agents accusing the firm of market abuse by charging "unsustainable fees". Rightmove acknowledged the claim, but said in a statement that it was "without merit, and we will defend it vigorously." Meanwhile, Nike 's Frankfurt-listed shares followed their U.S. counterparts sharply lower on Wednesday after the retailer warned sales will fall for the rest of the calendar year, led by an expected 20% decline in its key China market during the current quarter. Indigo is one of a handful of airlines that are rerouting and canceling flights to avoid Pakistan's airspace. Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, which runs India's largest airline IndiGo, rose more than 9% Wednesday, a day after it named industry veteran William Walsh as its new chief executive. Walsh, 64, is currently the director general of the International Air Transport Association and will join the Indian airline in early August. Walsh has served as the CEO of British Airways. His appointment comes weeks after Pieter Elbers suddenly stepped down as IndiGo's top boss following scrutiny over the carrier's failure to plan properly for pilot rest and duty rules, which led to thousands of flight cancellations in December. Elbers exited the company last month, citing "personal reasons." Indian airline companies have been particularly affected due to the airspace disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. On March 18, Moody's-backed Indian rating agency ICRA placed IndiGo's long-term credit rating "on Watch with Negative Implications" owing to the "expected pressure on the airline's operating and financial performance arising from the escalation of the geopolitical conflict in West Asia." IndiGo commands nearly 65% of India's aviation market share, while Air India is a distant second at about 27%, according to data from the country's aviation regulator. Walsh's experience of "managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics make him ideally suited to strengthen and lead IndiGo for continued growth," said Vikram Singh Mehta, IndiGo's chairman, in an exchange filing on Tuesday. Walsh has also served as CEO of IAG, the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus, LEVEL, IAG Loyalty and IAG Cargo. Smoke rises after explosions struck the northeastern, western, and central areas amid Israeli attacks in Tehran, Iran on April 1, 2026. Iran demands a guaranteed ceasefire to end war permanently, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday. The source said intermediaries contacted Iran on Tuesday, with discussions focused on continuing diplomacy. The source added that no talks have taken place via mediators for a temporary ceasefire. Iran's Revolutionary Guard has threatened attacks on a swath of U.S. tech companies with operations in the Middle East, including Nvidia , Apple , Microsoft and Google . The Guard warned on Tuesday that 18 tech companies would be considered as "legitimate targets" in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. "From now on, for every assassination, an American company will be destroyed," they said in an Guard-affiliated Telegram channel. Attacks on those companies would begin from 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, Tehran time (12:30 p.m. EDT), the Guard said in a post on Telegram translated by Google, warning employees at those companies to leave workplaces immediately to protect their lives. The list of companies also featured Cisco , HP , Intel , Oracle , IBM , Dell , Palantir , JPMorgan , Tesla , GE, Spire Solutions, Boeing and UAE-based artificial intelligence company G42. "The safety and wellbeing of our team is our number one priority," an Intel spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC. "We are taking steps to safeguard and support our workers and facilities in the Middle East and are actively monitoring the situation." James Henderson, CEO of risk management firm Healix, said the rise in threats against tech companies is not a flash in the pan, but is a sustained pattern. "Tech assets are now treated as part of the conflict, not peripheral to it," he told CNBC. "It also signals that future crises may target data centres and cloud platforms as much as traditional strategic sites," he added. Iranian struck AWS data centers in the Middle East in early March, causing outages in a number of apps and digital services in the United Arab Emirates. Novo Nordisk rose as much as 4% after England's drug price watchdog recommended the use of its best-selling drug Wegovy to prevent heart attacks and strokes, marking the first GLP-1 backed for this use in the country. Wegovy is mainly a weight loss treatment but it is also approved for reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in people living with overweight or obesity. The new recommendation the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), England's drug price regulator, will significantly expand access to Wegovy on the country's National Health Service (NHS). Around 1.2 million people could use the medicine to help protect them against having further heart attacks or strokes, as it is made available for this condition, NICE said in a statement on Wednesday. The regulator, which assesses a medicine's cost-effectiveness, recommended semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic, as an option for adults who have previously had a heart attack, a stroke, or a serious circulation problem in the legs and who have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 27. Novo's Copenhagen-listed shares were last seen up 1.7% in morning trading, paring some earlier gains. The pan-European blue-chip index Stoxx 600 was up 1.8%. Clinical trials have shown that patients taking a 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide alongside existing cardiovascular medicines were 20% less likely to have a serious cardiovascular event compared to placebo. Crude prices fell on Wednesday as investors weighed U.S. President Donald Trump's willingness to exit the Iran conflict within weeks, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery fell 1.24%, or $1.26, to close at $100.12 a barrel, while the Brent contract for June delivery was down 2.82%, or $2.93, to trade around $101.04 a barrel. The global oil benchmark surged more than 60% last month, in its strongest monthly rally dating back to 1988. The May contract settled about 5% higher on Tuesday at $118.35 per barrel. Oil prices dropped after Trump said Tuesday evening that he expected the U.S. military to wind down operations against Iran in "two or three weeks" and appeared to be declaring victory. "We leave because there's no reason for us to do this," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We'll be leaving very soon." Trump also dismissed the idea of having to reach a negotiated deal to end the war, saying that "Iran doesn't have to make a deal ... it's a new regime. They are much more accessible." He also asserted that he had stopped Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon. Later Tuesday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that Trump will deliver a national address to provide an "important update" on Iran at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday. Walmart-owned Sam's Club said Wednesday it will raise its annual membership fee by $10. Starting on May 1, the warehouse club which directly competes with Costco and BJ's Wholesale Club will charge $60 per year for basic membership and $120 for its higher-tier option. It currently charges $50 for club members and $110 for Plus members and last raised annual fees in October 2022. In a statement, Sam's Club said it has "adjusted our membership pricing to support the things our members love," citing perks including its assortment, expanded hours and better curbside pickup and delivery options. Still, those new fees will be below those of rival Costco, which charges $65 per year for its basic membership and $130 per year for its higher-tier option. Costco hiked its fees in 2024. The fees bring Sam's Club in line with BJ's, which charges $60 per year for its basic membership and $120 per year for its higher-tier membership. Sam's Club is hiking membership fees as its annual sales and membership grow. Net sales for Sam's Club in the U.S. grew by about 3.1% to $93 billion last fiscal year, according to Walmart's fourth-quarter earnings report. That growth has come in part from an expanding digital business: In the holiday quarter, the warehouse club's e-commerce sales increased by 23% year over year. Store and website visits increased, too, with transactions rising 5.3% year over year in the same quarter. Higher gas prices, driven by the Iran war, have drawn more attention to one of warehouse clubs' key perks: cheaper prices at the pump. Gas prices hit a nationwide average of $4.018 this week, according to travel association AAA. That's the highest price since August 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine war drove up energy prices. Sam's Club does not disclose its membership count, but said that it hit a record high in the three-month quarter that ended Jan. 31. Membership for the retailer is estimated to be more than 30 million, with a similar proportion of members opting into the higher-tier level as at Costco, according to David Bellinger, a retail analyst for Mizuho Securities. Based on the equity research firm's estimate, the membership fee increase could bump up annual income from the subscriptions by more than $200 million. That would translate to a 2 cent annual earnings per share lift for parent company Walmart. Membership fee increases for current members will take effect when they renew at the end of their billing cycle. Sam's Club said it emailed members about the fee increase on Tuesday. As part of the fee change, Sam's Club said members of its higher-tier level, called "Plus," will be able to earn up to $750 per year in Sam's Cash rewards on eligible purchases, up from $500 per year. Lordhenrivoton | E+ | Getty Images Parents who took out student loans for their child's education still have time to take steps to preserve their access to affordable repayment plans and debt forgiveness, consumer advocates say. But the window of opportunity is shrinking quickly. Starting in July, Parent PLUS borrowers will no longer qualify for income-driven repayment plans, due to changes implemented in President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. IDR plans cap borrowers' monthly bills at a share of their discretionary income and culminate in student loan forgiveness. But if you consolidate your Parent PLUS loans into a so-called Direct Consolidation Loan in April, you can likely maintain your access to IDR options, said Nancy Nierman, assistant director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program in New York. Consolidating Parent PLUS loans will leave you with a Direct federal loan the kind most students carry. Previously, experts said parent borrowers should start the consolidation process by the end of March in order to meet the July 1 deadline. But, Nierman said, she's recently seen the U.S. Department of Education complete these requests within six weeks. "Borrowers should still be able to file applications during the month of April and have their new consolidation loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2026," Nierman said. The Parent PLUS federal loan program allows parents to borrow on behalf of dependent undergraduate students. Roughly 3.6 million people hold these loans, and the total debt exceeds $114 billion, according to an analysis by higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. The typical parent balance is around $32,000. Consolidate now for IDR access Because parent borrowers need to have their consolidation completed before July 1 to still qualify for IDR plans, experts still recommend you start the process as soon as possible. "They shouldn't procrastinate," Kantrowitz said. During the consolidation application process, parents must select the Income-Contingent Repayment plan and make at least one payment under that program. After that, you should be able to move into the Income-Based Repayment plan, which will likely result in the lowest monthly payment, Nierman said. This is the process the Department of Education requires from its interpretation of the new law. Under the terms of IBR, borrowers pay 10% of their discretionary income each month and that share rises to 15% for certain borrowers with older loans. Debt forgiveness is supposed to come after 20 years or 25 years, depending on when you took out your loans. Older loans are subject to the longer timeline. Fewer options for those who don't consolidate Yangtze River fishing ban yields notable phased results Xinhua) 08:37, April 01, 2026 SHANGHAI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved notable phased results since the launch of the 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River in 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Tuesday. From 2021 to 2025, a total of 351 indigenous fish species were monitored in the Yangtze River basin, 43 more than in the pre-ban period, while the monitored unit volume of resources in the main stream of the Yangtze River in 2025 recovered to twice the pre-ban level, according to the ministry. During the same period, the index of biological integrity in key waters including the main stream of the Yangtze River improved compared with the period from 2017 to 2020, reversing the decline in aquatic biological resources. Fisheries law enforcement capacity has improved across the country, while cross-regional and multi-department joint enforcement has been strengthened, helping curb illegal fishing, transport and sales. In 2025, the number of fishery-related criminal cases fell by nearly 40 percent year on year. The ministry said efforts should be made to further strengthen the protection of aquatic life in the Yangtze River, advance flagship species conservation programs, step up the restoration of important habitats, and promote the overall recovery of aquatic ecosystems. Solid steps should also be taken to secure the livelihoods of former fishers, promote stable employment and social security through multiple measures, and steadily improve their living standards, according to the ministry. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) With approaching ownership transitions across the greater Philadelphia market, business owners are urged to focus on data quality, management depth, and buyer fit. PHILADELPHIA, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia's lower-middle-market business community is entering a period in which founder preparedness may matter as much as market demand, according to Geoff Veale of Viking Mergers & Acquisitions, who says the region's blend of long-held private companies and newer growth businesses is creating both opportunity and urgency for business owners considering an eventual sale. Geoff Veale explains why Philadelphia was the right next market for Viking M&A and what makes the region important for founder-led businesses. Veale, who leads Viking M&A's Philadelphia market, said the region stands out for its diversity. In addition to healthcare, biotech, and technology, the broader market includes logistics, warehousing, trucking, financial services, manufacturing, and a large base of family-held and privately held businesses. That combination makes Philadelphia a meaningful market for lower-middle-market M&A, but it also means many owners will need to think more proactively about succession, infrastructure, and how buyers assess risk. "Philadelphia is a large market, but it also has a real entrepreneurial spirit with a lot of small to medium-sized family-held and privately held businesses," Veale said. "You have younger, growth-oriented companies, but you also have a lot of long-held businesses where ownership transition questions are becoming very real." That dynamic is especially relevant in a region where not all multi-generational companies have a natural internal successor and where many founder-led businesses still depend heavily on the owner for customer relationships, operations, or financial oversight. According to Veale, this can become a challenge when a company enters the market, particularly if the owner has not invested in the management, reporting, and operational systems that buyers expect to see. "One consistent misunderstanding is how important the quality of the information and data is when you present a company to buyers," Veale said. In practice, disorganized financials or incomplete documentation can cast doubt on how well a business is run, even when the underlying company is strong. That is one reason many owners are better served by beginning exit preparation years before a transaction. Veale said preparation often includes improving financial reporting, adding management depth, reducing owner dependence, and strengthening legal and operational infrastructure. Those steps improve sale readiness but also make a business stronger in the near term. His advice to owners thinking about a transition in the next several years is direct: "Preparation, preparation, preparation. You can't start thinking about selling your company soon enough." Veale also cautioned against assuming all buyers are alike or that a one-buyer process will lead to the best outcome. He said owners who try to sell on their own may focus too narrowly on price while overlooking buyer quality, process discipline, certainty of closing, and the importance of having alternatives if terms change late in the deal. The issue is not limited to one industry. Philadelphia's broad mix of company types means the same core questions are showing up across the market: whether the business can operate without the owner, whether the numbers are decision-ready, and whether the seller has built enough infrastructure to withstand diligence and negotiate from strength. For business owners in greater Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Northern Delaware, Veale said the lesson is not that every company should go to market now. It is that more privately held companies should begin preparing earlier, especially if succession is uncertain or an ownership transition is likely within the next two to five years. The broader opportunity in the region is real, he said. But owners who wait until they are emotionally or operationally forced into a decision often have fewer options than those who plan ahead. Viking Mergers & Acquisitions recently expanded into the Philadelphia market as part of its broader Mid-Atlantic presence. Business owners in greater Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Northern Delaware who are thinking about succession, value, or a future sale can contact Viking M&A to start a conversation about their goals and readiness. Additional insight into the Philadelphia market and what owners should be thinking about now is available in the firm's full blog post here: https://www.vikingmergers.com/blog/philadelphia-geoff-veale-viking-ma/ About Viking Mergers and Acquisitions in Philadelphia Viking Mergers & Acquisitions in Philadelphia supports business owners with annual revenues ranging from $2M to $250M. Viking offers complimentary business valuation services, ongoing valuation updates, and comprehensive exit planning and strategy for small and middle-market business owners. As one of the largest and most successful mergers and acquisitions firms in the United States, Viking is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and Tampa, F.L. The firm boasts 18 offices strategically positioned across the U.S., providing exceptional brokerage services as well as mergers & acquisitions advisory work. Over the past three decades, Viking has successfully sold more than 950 businesses, achieving a closing ratio more than three times the industry average. Viking consistently maintains an impressive 85% closing rate, securing sellers an average of 96% of their asking price. Visit https://www.vikingmergers.com/market/business-brokers-philadelphia-pa/ to request a confidential, complimentary business valuation or for more information about selling or buying a business. SOURCE Viking Mergers & Acquisitions D. John Sauer, then special assistant to the Louisiana attorney general listens during a hearing with the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Capitol Hill on July 20, 2023. A lawyer for the Trump administration during arguments at the Supreme Court on Wednesday leaned hard into his claim that so-called birth tourism is strong evidence that the U.S. policy of automatically giving citizenship to babies born in the country needs to end. The lawyer, Solicitor General D. John Sauer, said there are many companies, particularly ones that cater to Chinese and Russian elites, that offer to help them enter the U.S. so their children can be born there and gain citizenship. "The congressional report that we cite in our brief talks about certain hot spots, like Russian elites coming to Miami through these birth tourism companies," Sauer told the high court's justices as President Donald Trump looked on from the gallery. In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order that would effectively end birthright citizenship, which for more than 150 years has been considered the law of the land due to the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. "Media reported as early as 2015 that, based on Chinese media reports, there are 500 500 birth tourism companies in the People's Republic of China, whose business is to bring people here to give birth and return to that nation," said Sauer, who called that figure "striking" without saying what media reports he was referring to. The solicitor general cited a March 9 letter from members of Congress to the Department of Homeland Security that said media reports indicate as many as 1.5 million Chinese nationals with U.S. citizenship might have obtained that status through the "birth tourism" industry. The U.S. does not officially track the number of children born to travelers on visitor visas. The most recent estimates from the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for reducing immigration, in 2020 put the number of "birth tourists" at around 20,000 to 26,000 babies a year. The letter cites the conservative media outlet, Breitbart News Network, which attributes the 1.5 million estimate to author Peter Schweizer, who claimed those American citizens will then grow up in China only to return to the U.S. to legally vote there upon turning 18. Schweizer also argues that when those people turn 21, they will apply for U.S. residency status for their parents. A woman and her husband were convicted in 2025 of conspiracy and money laundering over her birth tourism operation, USA Happy Baby. And in 2015, federal authorities indicted 19 people linked to three "birth tourism" operations in Southern California. Federal authorities arrested three of those defendants in 2019. Marco Rubio (r), U.S. Secretary of State, sits next to Johann Wadephul (CDU), Foreign Minister, at the final working session of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in France. Trump has long mused about the U.S. leaving the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and he is expected to reiterate his frustrations with the Western military bloc during his address on Wednesday. But Trump may be blocked from unilaterally jettisoning the U.S. from NATO thanks to a 2023 bill authored in part by his own Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, then a Republican senator from Florida. Tucked into the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024 was a provision blocking the U.S. president from unilaterally exiting NATO, requiring a two-thirds majority in the Senate or an act of Congress for any move to leave the alliance. Rubio led the bill with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and it was signed into law in December 2023. That means any move by Trump to leave NATO would be in immediate legal peril. The alliance was founded in 1949, following World War II. "The Senate should maintain oversight on whether or not our nation withdraws from NATO. We must ensure we are protecting our national interests and protecting the security of our democratic allies," Rubio said at the time the bill passed. Rubio, in a recent interview with Al Jazeera, struck a notably harsher tone toward the alliance. "If NATO is just about us defending Europe if they're attacked but then denying us basing rights when we need them, that's not a very good arrangement. That's a hard one to stay engaged in and say this is good for the United States. So all of that is going to have to be reexamined," he said. Garrett Downs President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran's "New Regime President" has asked the U.S. for a ceasefire. But the U.S. will "consider" the offer only once the Strait of Hormuz is "open, free, and clear," Trump said on Truth Social. "Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!" he wrote. Tehran denied that it requested a ceasefire, Al Jazeera reported later Wednesday morning, citing an unnamed Iranian official. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that Tehran is not looking for a ceasefire but is seeking to end the war. "At present there is no negotiation," Araghchi told the outlet in an interview, according to a translation. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for additional information on the dispute over the alleged ceasefire request. It was not clear if any request was made directly to the U.S., as Trump's post suggested, or if it came via an intermediary, such as Pakistan. And even if President Masoud Pezeshkian had asked for the ceasefire, he may not have the last word: Iran's supreme leader, not its president, has ultimate authority in the Islamic Republic. The current supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has refrained from making public appearances since his accession following the killing of his father, the former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an airstrike at the start of the war. The two sides have frequently contradicted each other's claims about the existence and status of peace-deal talks since the war began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Trump's Truth Social announcement came hours before he was set to deliver an "important update on Iran" in an address to the nation, according to the White House. The address is set for 9 p.m. ET. The month-old war has rapidly caused widespread economic turmoil and massive fluctuations in global energy prices. That turbulence is linked in large part to Iran's continued ability to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz, the pathway for a major chunk of the world's oil shipments. Trump has acknowledged that the strait remains a key sticking point in the war, even as he and other administration officials insist that Iran's military has been "obliterated" and that the U.S. is rapidly achieving its goals. U.S. President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting on January 21, 2026 in Davos, Switzerland. U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering pulling the U.S. out of NATO, in the latest threat to America's allies after their reluctance to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with The Telegraph newspaper, the president described the 77-year-old defensive alliance as a "paper tiger" and, when asked if he would reconsider the U.S.' membership in the bloc after the Iran conflict ends, Trump told the paper: "Oh yes, I would say [it's] beyond reconsideration." "I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way," he said, in comments published Wednesday. Trump has been angered by European allies' refusal to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas maritime passage controlled by Iran, and at their refusal to let the U.S. use military bases to launch attacks against the Islamic Republic. European leaders see any attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as highly dangerous, as Iran continues to attack tankers in the strait that aren't deemed to be from "friendly" nations. Officials are also of the view that Trump's war on Iran is one of choice, and one they were not consulted on before it began in late February. There is also a reluctance to get involved in what could become another "forever war" in the Middle East, like those in Iraq or Afghanistan. Trump has made clear he sees this reluctance as NATO's betrayal of the U.S. after it has helped Ukraine in its four-year conflict with Russia. Opponents of that view argue that NATO is predicated on an idea of collective defense, rather than offense. The president told the Telegraph that he had expected allies to acquiesce to the U.S.' request for assistance in Iran. "Beyond not being there, it was actually hard to believe. And I didn't do a big sale. I just said, 'Hey', you know, I didn't insist too much. I just think it should be automatic," he said, in comments published Wednesday, adding: "We've been there automatically, including Ukraine. Ukraine wasn't our problem. It was a test, and we were there for them, and we would always have been there for them. They weren't there for us." Trump's comments come after he warned the U.K. and France on Tuesday that the U.S. "won't be there to help you anymore." Posting on Truth Social, Trump said, "the Country of France wouldn't let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory." "France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the 'Butcher of Iran,' who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!," he said in one post. In another post, the president singled out the U.K. for criticism while urging other countries to take action in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital oil route that Iran has effectively blocked during the war. "All of those countries that can't get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you," Trump wrote. "Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT." In his published comments on Wednesday, Trump again rebuked the U.K., suggesting that the country's Royal Navy was inadequate. "You don't even have a navy. You're too old and had aircraft carriers that didn't work," he said, referring to Britain's fleet of warships. Trump told the Telegraph he would not tell British Prime Minister Keir Starmer "what to do" when it came to increased defense spending. "I'm not going to tell him what to do. He can do whatever he wants. It doesn't matter. All Starmer wants is costly windmills that are driving your energy prices through the roof." Other senior officials have hinted that the U.S. could abandon NATO, though it's uncertain how seriously these threats should be taken. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that Washington would have to "reexamine" its relationship with NATO once the war in Iran ended. "If NATO is just about us defending Europe if they're attacked but then denying us basing rights when we need them, that's not a very good arrangement. That's a hard one to stay engaged in and say this is good for the United States. So all of that is going to have to be reexamined," he told Al Jazeera. Starmer was asked to comment on the criticism from his U.S. counterpart at a news conference on Wednesday. He told reporters that there's been "a good deal of pressure on me to change my position in relation to joining the [Iran] war, and I'm not going to change my position on the war." "Whatever the pressure, whatever the noise, I am the British prime minister and I have to act in our national interests," he said. Starmer added he would not choose between the U.S. and Europe, but signaled that the relationship with the Continent was increasingly important. "I think it's in our interest to have a strong relationship with the U.S. and with Europe," he told reporters, adding: "But I do think that when it comes to defense and security, energy emissions and the economy, we need a stronger relationship with Europe." Later on Wednesday, Finnish President Alexander Stubb posted on X that he'd spoken to Trump. "Constructive discussion and exchange of ideas on Nato, Ukraine and Iran. Problems are there to be solved, pragmatically," Stubb wrote. People demonstrate outside the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's expected arrival on April 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday on whether an executive order by President Donald Trump can upend what has long been the constitutional guarantee of citizenship for people born in the U.S., regardless of their parents' immigration status. Trump was in the courtroom for the arguments in the birthright citizenship case known as Trump v. Barbara, the first time a sitting president has attended such a session. Trump stayed for more than an hour, listening to the presentation by Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who defended the executive order, and then left less than 15 minutes after a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union argued against his order. "We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow 'Birthright' Citizenship!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post after leaving. If Trump's order is upheld, it would leave tens of thousands of babies born in the U.S. each month to undocumented immigrants or visitors without American citizenship. Trump, on his first day back in the White House on Jan. 20, 2025, signed an executive order saying that 30 days after its effective date, babies born in the U.S. were not entitled to be issued citizenship documents if their parents had immigrated illegally or were undocumented workers. Sauer told the justices that automatically granting citizenship to people born in the U.S. "demeans the priceless and profound gift of American citizenship." "It operates as a powerful pull factor for illegal immigration and rewards illegal aliens who not only violate the immigration laws, but also jump in front of those who follow the rules," Sauer said. "It has spawned a sprawling industry of birth tourism as uncounted thousands of foreigners from potentially hostile nations have flocked to give birth in the United States in recent decades, creating a whole generation of American citizens abroad with no meaningful ties to the United States," Sauer said. "We're in a new world now, as Justice [Samuel] Alito pointed out, to where 8 billion people are one plane ride away from having a child who's a U.S. citizen," Sauer said. In 1984, Volkswagen partnered with a Chinese automaker because it was required by Chinese law. Now the German company is partnering with Chinese automakers because it wants to use their technology. Volkswagen Group today maintains the original joint ventures it made with Chinese automakers in those early days of its foray into what has become the world's largest car market. But the fact that it is now relying on firms such as Chinese EV maker Xpeng for hardware and software underscore how the balance of power in the automotive industry is shifting toward the companies that produce these now high-value components. Chinese companies are proving they can do it faster, often cheaper, than anyone else. VW Group, which has for much of the last few decades been a top-selling brand in China, has lately struggled to maintain its position. Volkswagen's China profits fell about 45 percent in 2025 from roughly $2 billion to $1.1 billion. The company said in its annual report that it now faces intense competition from Chinese firms. It is not a unique issue. Essentially every non-Chinese automaker is watching market share erode in the country as homegrown companies create vehicles that more directly serve what Chinese customers want. In particular, Chinese buyers have a taste for what are often called "software-defined vehicles." They are connected and updatable, and essentially allow drivers to do everything through a car they would do through a phone. "The Chinese vehicle owner can do his banking using voice commands or order takeout to meet him when he arrives at his house, or do any number of things that seem a little unusual to us here in the West, because we just aren't built that way," said AutoForecast Solutions analyst Conrad Layson. "However, the Chinese buyer can't do that in a Chinese-built Volkswagen, so they went where the convenience was. They were able to bring their digital lives along with them into and out of the car." Your Neighborhood Sandwich Shop Brings Flavor, Value, and Easy Group Meals to Spring and Summer Celebrations DENVER, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Port of Subs, the neighborhood sandwich franchise serving up fresh, made-to-order subs, is welcoming the warmer months with a lineup of limited-time menu highlights, easy catering options, and rewarding deals. Whether it's graduation parties, weddings, family get-togethers, or just a quick lunch in the sun, Port of Subs is making it easier (and more delicious) to bring people together. Port of Subs' Turkey Bacon & Avocado Sub Leading the lineup is the new Turkey, Bacon & Avocado sub a craveable combination of freshly sliced turkey, crispy bacon, creamy avocado, and crisp veggies, all stacked on freshly baked bread. It's the perfect mix of fresh and indulgent, just in time for spring and summer. And there's even more to love. Guests who try the Turkey, Bacon & Avocado sub in April will earn 2x points through the Port Perks rewards program. Fresh Deals, Fun Rewards, and Easy Catering Port of Subs is rolling out a full lineup of limited-time offers designed to make every occasion a little easier and a lot tastier: 2-Foot Tuesdays: Available exclusively through the Port Perks rewards program in the mobile app, guests can unlock weekly deals on the brand's signature 2-foot subs, perfect for sharing or not. Available exclusively through the Port Perks rewards program in the mobile app, guests can unlock weekly deals on the brand's signature 2-foot subs, perfect for sharing or not. Graduation & Wedding Catering (May): Feeding a crowd? Port Perks members can save on the new 9-Foot Sub Boxes, making party planning simple and stress-free. Feeding a crowd? Port Perks members can save on the new 9-Foot Sub Boxes, making party planning simple and stress-free. Summer Visit Challenge (June): Visit four times in June and earn a free small sub, because summer should come with rewards. Visit four times in June and earn a free small sub, because summer should come with rewards. Mother's Day Gift Card Offer (May 1 May 10): Buy a $20 gift card online and receive a $5 bonus card, an easy and tasty way to celebrate Mom. (May 1 May 10): Buy a $20 gift card online and receive a $5 bonus card, an easy and tasty way to celebrate Mom. Celebrate Your Grad (May): Purchase a $50 gift card and receive a $10 bonus card for yourself. Purchase a $50 gift card and receive a $10 bonus card for yourself. Father's Day Gift Card Offer (June 12 June 21): Buy a $20 gift card and get a $5 bonus card, perfect for treating Dad to his favorite sub. "Our subs are made for moments like these, bringing people together, celebrating milestones, or just enjoying a great meal," said Healey Mendicino, President and CEO of Port of Subs. "We're excited to offer guests fresh flavors, great value, and easy options for everything from everyday meals to big celebrations." Known for slicing meats and cheeses fresh for every order, Port of Subs continues to deliver quality, flavor, and customization in every bite, whether you're grabbing lunch on the go or feeding a crowd. To learn more or find a location near you, visit www.portofsubs.com. About Port of Subs Port of Subs has been slicing fresh and serving communities for more than five decades. Founded on a commitment to quality sandwich making and superior customer service, the brand is known for its premium meats and cheeses and customizable, made-to-order menu offerings. With more than 120 locations across the U.S. and a growing franchise development pipeline, Port of Subs continues to evolve through innovative products, convenient technology, and a commitment to being Your Neighborhood Sandwich Shop. For more information, please visit www.portofsubs.com. For franchising opportunities, visit https://franchising.portofsubs.com/. SOURCE Port of Subs LOS ANGELES, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last several years, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) has been working closely with state leaders, policymakers and regulators to enhance natural gas storage capability which is important for energy system resiliency and affordability. Today the company announced a new analysis estimating its four underground natural gas storage fields helped SoCalGas and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) customers avoid over $120 million in potential energy costs during January's Winter Storm Fern.1 The analysis focuses only on natural gas price impacts and does not include other related savings such as lower electricity costs. While the massive storm drove natural gas price increases across much of the country, SoCalGas was able to reduce customer exposure across the SoCalGas system, including SDG&E customers, to volatile market conditions by withdrawing lower-cost natural gas reserves purchased months earlier and stored locally for periods of high demand or market disruption. As a result, Southern Californians avoided significant increases in natural gas costs during the storm, helping keep bills lower despite widespread supply constraints and higher bills nationwide. During Winter Storm Fern, instead of purchasing $30 natural gas (per decatherm) from the marketplace, the SoCalGas system supplied natural gas to both SoCalGas and SDG&E customers that was stored locally when prices were $3 (per decatherm).2 "Southern California is better prepared for weather events and other regional energy disruptions because of targeted investments in natural gas storage and transmission infrastructure," said Rodger Schwecke, chief operating officer, SoCalGas. "Following extensive technical review and clear safeguards, state regulators and energy agencies made careful determinations to increase local natural storage reserves decisions which proved especially important when market conditions became volatile." "Events like Winter Storm Fern show why preparation matters," said Kevin Geraghty, chief operating officer, SDG&E. "The ability to draw on natural gas that had been stored in advance helped reduce cost volatility for our customers and supported reliable energy delivery during a period of significant market disruption." During Winter Storm Fern, from Jan. 23, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2026, SoCalGas withdrew more than 8 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas from its storage fields to meet customer regional demand, roughly equivalent to the energy needed to power about 350,000 California homes for a year. As gas supplies entering the state declined, storage became the main source of natural gas for customers, supplying nearly 60 percent of system demand at the storm's peak. Aliso Canyon, one of four SoCalGas storage facilities in Southern California, provided about 30 percent of all gas delivered to the SoCalGas and SDG&E system at the peak. Even with this increased use, storage levels remained strong and ready to support customers for the remainder of winter. Southern California imports more than 90 percent of its natural gas, making local storage a key component of regional energy reliability and affordability. Natural gas storage allows SoCalGas to meet rapid changes in demand, support electric generators during peak conditions, and help stabilize prices by reducing reliance on same day market purchases during emergencies. About SoCalGas SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States, serving more than 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Our mission is: Safe, Reliable, and Affordable energy delivery today. Ready for tomorrow. SoCalGas is a recognized leader in the energy industry and has been named Corporate Member of the Year by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for its volunteer leadership in the communities it serves. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE). For more information, visit SoCalGas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on social media @SoCalGas. About SDG&E SDG&E is an innovative energy-delivery company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by increasing energy delivered from low- or zero-carbon sources; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; and investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region's infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a recognized leader in its industry and community, as demonstrated by being named Corporate Partner of the Year at the San Diego Business Journal's Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards and receiving PA Consulting's ReliabilityOne Award for Outstanding Reliability Performance for 20 consecutive years. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE ). For more information, visit SDGEtoday.com or connect with SDG&E on social media @SDGE. Message Funded by Shareholders. 1Analysis is based on daily SoCalGas storage withdrawals as reported on Envoy and a comparison of Henry Hub and SoCal Citygate prices as reported by Natural Gas Intelligence for the time Jan 23, 2026, through Jan 31, 2026. SoCalGas ENVOY is a web-based dashboard that helps businesses manage natural gas supplies, trade pipeline capacity, and enhance gas service selections. 2SoCalGas system injections reported on Envoy, and represented purchase price of Henry Hub from April 1, 2025, to Oct. 31, 2025, as reported by EIA's Natural Gas Weekly, and represented potential purchase price of Henry Hub from Jan. 23, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2026, as reported by EIA's Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report. SOURCE Southern California Gas Company; San Diego Gas & Electric The following are the dispositions settled in Toole County Justice Court from March 20 - March 26, by the Honorable Judge Donna Whitt. Mandi R. Henderson, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 80/70, $20 fine. Pamela S. Guardipee, failure to carry proof or exhibit insurance in vehicle, owner/operator, third or subsequent offense, dismissed by court. Spencer S. Sharp, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, first offense, amended to operating a vehicle with THC concentration of 5 ng/ml or greater, first offense, pled not guilty, found guilty, $685 fine; failure to carry proof or exhibit proof in vehicle, owner/operator, first offense, dismissed by prosecution; speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 102/70, dismissed by prosecution; contempt of Justice Court, dismissed by court. William L. Lutgen, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, first offense, amended to reckless driving, first offense, $535 fine, 90 days jail, 90 days suspended. Raul K. Brown, driving a motor vehicle while privilege to do so is suspended or revoked, first offense, pled not guilty, found guilty, $285 fine, two days jail, two days suspended; failure to carry proof or exhibit insurance in vehicle, owner/operator, first offense, $275 fine; driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, first offense, pled not guilty, guilty, $675 fine. Singh Manpreet Singh, failure to obey direction to be weighed, $235 fine. Akoi C. Gabriel, interstate/international motor carrier operating without payment of fee required for coop/recip, $85 fine. Kim M. Cain, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 80/70, $20 fine. Matthew Mejia-Bazan, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding daytime limit, 80/70, $20 fine. Kadon R. Price, speeding on non-interstate, exceeding nighttime limit, 75/65, $20 fine. Janice Kay Rogers was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on March 5, 2026. She was 73 years old and a longtime resident of Conrad, Montana. Janice was born to John Rogers and Dorothy (Moore) Rogers in Conrad on June 20, 1952. She grew up on the family farm north of Conrad and later moved into town. She attended school in Conrad and worked for several local businesses over the years, including the Branding Iron, Conrad Bakery, and Conrad Hospital. In April 1980 she welcomed her daughter, Darla, whom she proudly raised on her own with the support of family and friends. In 1989 she briefly relocated to Langdon, North Dakota, to work for friends at a local bakery, then returned to Conrad, where she remained for the rest of her life. Between 1996 and 2007 her family grew with the addition of five grandchildren, and she spent much of her time being the devoted grandmother they remember. Family was the center of Janice's world. She loved her grandchildren dearly and cherished the family she helped build. She shared a special bond with her daughter and grandchildren and treasured the time they spent together. Her sister, Sheldon, held a special place in her heart and was a constant companion and caregiver. They enjoyed trips to Great Falls, Choteau, and Shelby, and simple afternoons sitting on the deck in the sunshine, sharing good conversation. Janice had a gift for connecting with people. Over the past five years she developed several close friendships that were very important to her and brought her great joy. She loved meeting new faces and hearing their stories, believing everyone had something meaningful to share. She will be remembered for her laughter, caring spirit, and generous love. A devoted animal lover, she gave a home to many strays over the years and made sure they were loved. Janice also loved food - her enjoying a good meal or sharing one with others - and believing meals were best when they brought people together. Her favorite part of the day was calling friends and family to ask what they were having for dinner. Her quick humor and playful jokes meant time with her was rarely quiet and never dull. Though sometimes a bit stubborn, her determination came from deep care and a desire for the health and happiness of those she loved. She is survived by her daughter; five grandchildren; a great-grandson; four sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Rogers and Dorothy (Murrain) Wilson. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Moose Lodge in Conrad, on Saturday, April 11 at noon. The family will hold a private ceremony on June 20, 2026, at Lone Pine State Park to celebrate her life and the spreading of her ashes. The family requests that donations in Janice's memory be directed to: Kittymomsrescue.org; 265 Aspen Loop, Kalispell, MT 59901. Condolences can be made to www.asperfh.com. Millard Martin "Jack" Norman Born Aug. 8, 1927, Lewistown, Mont. Millard Martin "Jack" Norman, a lifelong Montanan, rancher, entrepreneur, pilot and devoted family man, passed away of natural causes on March 20, 2026, at the age of 98. Jack was born August 8, 1927 in Lewistown, Montana, to Martin and Hannah Norman, Jack grew up on the family ranch on Plum Creek, about 40 miles from Lewistown, with three sisters. From an early age he learned the value of hard work, independence and resourcefulness - riding horseback five miles to grade school and working the Judith River breaks where the family summered their cattle. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Jack returned to Lewistown and, with fellow serviceman Don Pfau, opened an army-surplus business known locally as "2 G.I.s With Real Buys." On Aug. 23, 1947, he married Carole Wilber. The couple had five children: David, Kaye, Tom, Doug and Cindy, who were all born in Lewistown. Always a visionary with a practical streak, Jack answered the call of Montana's Hi-Line and moved his family in 1954 to Havre and opened the GI store on 1st Street. The name later was changed to Norman's Ranch and Sportswear and moved to its current location on 3rd Avenue in 1966. Over the years, he built the store into a regional institution, mentoring employees and inspiring many to enter the Western retail trade - one of whom opened a western store in Roundup. Jack and Carole also purchased a ranch in the Bearpaws south of Havre which became their beloved getaway.Jack's entrepreneurial spirit extended to helping the next generation. He put legs beneath his ideas, launching his sons into retail: Norman's Ranchwear stores in Butte, run by David, and in Cut Bank (established 1979), run by Doug. Together with David, Jack also built and operated Rushmore Waterslide Park in Rapid City beginning in 1984. For many summers he and Carole worked there until 1999 - creating a place full of cherished memories for grandchildren who affectionately called it "Grampid City." A man of many talents, Jack later helped his son Tom return to the family ranch on Plum Creek. Jack fixed up the old bunkhouse which became his and Carole's camp. Even in tough seasons - such as harsh spring snowstorms during the first calving season - Jack was back in the saddle, helping where needed and driving between homes to support family and ranch operations. Jack took great pride in his children's achievements. He especially admired his daughter Kaye and her husband Scott for taking on Norman's and helping it thrive. He loved to travel with Kaye and Scott to watch his granddaughters and great-grandchildren play sports. He followed local news and community happenings closely - never missing a clipping - and delighted in calling family members to drop everything and come help him with some new project or adventure. In later years Jack spent winters in Palm Springs with daughter Cindy and her husband Scott, enjoying the warmth so much he added an addition there to have his own "camp." He and son Tom would travel together to visit friends in Arizona, always ready for the next excursion. Jack's favorite pastime was time in "the hills" - his place in the Bearpaws - where he worked on projects with grandchildren and great-grandchildren in tow. He was an avid pilot. Through the years he flew his Piper Cub PA11 to and from the ranch on Plum Creek landing on a fairly smooth grassy air strip. Jack loved flying to events such as the Reno Air Races in his beloved Piper Comanche (N7246P). In 2021 he was honored with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, a recognition of a lifetime of safe flying. Jack lived a full, adventurous and prosperous life, generous with his time, knowledge and encouragement. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carole Wilber Norman; his sisters Lillian and Neta; his son David Norman in 1992, granddaughter Jolyn Young in 1992, son-in-law Scott Young in 2019 and granddaughter Jamie Young in 2022. He is survived by his sister Patricia Carr; son Tom Norman and wife Susie (Plum Creek); daughter Kaye Young (Havre); son Doug Norman and wife Kim (Cut Bank); daughter Cindy (Norman) Schmid and husband Scott (Portland, OR); 13 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-granddaughter, and also his much loved in-laws, the Wilbers from the Lewistown area. The family welcomes memories and stories of Jack's life - his warmth, leadership and adventurous spirit touched many, and his legacy will be carried forward by the generations he inspired. A life that ended too soon, Nicholaus Cole Donoven died quietly at home on March 17, 2026. He went by Nick, but he was also referred to as Buck by many in his family. He was born March 29, 1979 in Havre, Mont., to his parents Noela and Brian Donoven who later divorced in 1995. He lived a life rooted in simplicity, hard work, and deep love for his family. Nick's childhood was spent living in Kremlin, Mont., where he attended KG elementary school and later graduated from KG High School in Gildford, Montana. School wasn't really something he enjoyed for the books, studying or tests, but more for the time to be with friends and even a few favorite teachers. While in high school, he did work studies for school credit with Ron Kapperud and that set the pace for continuing with on-the-job training and skills rather than any additional formal education. While there never seems to be enough time, Nick made the most of his short time with a wide variety of jobs over the years, picking up skills and stories wherever he went. In his most recent role, he found plenty of opportunities to do what he did best: share a smile, tell a story, and give people a conversation to remember. Nick lived life his own way: full throttle-all gas and no brakes, often outdoors, and occasionally with just enough danger to keep things interesting. His younger years were packed with adventures that probably should have come with warning labels, but if you asked him, they were just part of growing up right. Nick valued the important friendships he built throughout his life. He had a way of turning friends into family, sharing laughter, loyalty, and countless memories that will be cherished by all who knew him. His latest group of friends were formed after connecting at work and putting together their music and game nights that brought Nick more laughs and a lot of pleasure. Two happy places for Nick were the farm and the cabin in the Bear Paw Mountains where many memories were made. In his younger days on the farm, picking rock was the job at hand, but for Nick the biggest concern was when we would eat lunch. He would leave with the family and barely round the corner to leave Kremlin before asking what was in the lunch box and when we were going to eat. Later years would find him on combine or truck, but lunch usually remained a priority. At the cabin there never seemed to be enough firewood, so Nick would spend free days gathering and stacking wood to be ready for the next good times with friends or family. He loved being in the fresh air and even spent nights out in the open air there. Nick loved his little sisters and had an uncanny way of convincing the oldest one of just about anything growing up. His sister Bri and he were making mud pies at Grandma Joyce's house as they often did and Nick convinced her that if she ate the dirt it would turn to chocolate in her mouth. Boy was she disappointed when she found out he tricked her, but he sure was proud of himself. Even after this, her trust did not waiver in her big brother. This was clearly evident when he was also able to convince her during bathtime that when her hair fell out in the tub, it turned to sharks and those sharks were going to eat them. He adored his baby sister, Jazlyn, and affectionately nicknamed her "Bean." Nick was determined to teach her how to play poker, but she had other ideas for her big brother and she was usually the one to win out. Once she was older, she became the gopher getting driver so Nick and "sissy Bri" could concentrate on shooting. They would be gone for hours and come back with the biggest smiles on their faces from having such a blast. Camping trips with Bean and Bri along with his Mom and stepdad Jim kept everybody going with Nick's contagious laugh over "fire roasted" Rocky Mountain hot dogs and flaming marshmallows. Preceding Nick in death were his grandparents, Noel Preeshl and Keith and Marlene Donoven along with his Uncle Barry Donoven. Nick was lucky enough to have his Grandma Joyce Preeshl still in his life providing great conversations, lunch dates, leftovers and a bent ear. Along with his Grandma Joyce, carrying on his memory are his "Ma" Noela Donoven (Jim Young), father Brian (Patty) Donoven, sisters Brianna Donoven (Cloyde Johnson and son Eli) and Jazlyn Young (Jesse Skonberg), step sister Karlee (Coda) Tchida and family, step brother Matt (Jessica) Felt and family along with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Cremation has taken place. Nick's memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 10, 2026, at the 5th Ave. Christian Church with Pastor Eddie Fallo officiating.The family suggests memorials in Nick's honor be made to the Bear Paw Fire Department or to a charitable organization of your choice. Please visit Nick's online memorial page a https://www.hollandbonine.com to send a card or leave a message of condolence for his family. Services and arrangements entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Richard "Dick" Stanley Maier, 80, of Conrad, Mont., passed away on March 22, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 4 p.m. at the Conrad Moose Lodge. All friends, former students, and community members are welcome to attend. Richard was born on April 11, 1945, in Wichita, Kansas, to Stanley and Mary Maier. He spent his early years in Butte, America, where he developed a lifelong love for the outdoors, adventure, and storytelling. Richard spent 32 years teaching middle school English and Montana History at Conrad Public Schools. Montana History was his true passion, and he had a gift for bringing it to life in the classroom. He became a memorable and beloved teacher to many, known for his unique teaching style and stories, especially those about "Bertha," writing sentences, slap fighting, and Sister Mary Emma. He began his teaching career with determination, attending college on academic probation after being inspired by a junior high teacher who believed in him. Richard carried that belief with him, always hoping to inspire his own students in the same way. Outside of teaching, Richard devoted his time to his family and hands-on work. For over 30 years, he worked as a crop adjuster, traveling across Montana and helping farmers during difficult seasons. For 25 years, he was the head goat milker and caretaker at Windrift Hill, where he also designed and built the soap-cutting equipment that is still used today. When he was younger, people called him "the Wichita Kid." He was a Golden Gloves boxer and even spent time with Evel Knievel. Richard felt most alive outdoors. He spent over 60 years trapping and took pride in his remarkable story of trapping a wolf in a coyote trap. He loved bow hunting and always looked forward to opening weekend in the Missouri River Breaks, sometimes taking time off from school to be there. He also competed in archery tournaments throughout the region, shooting recurve. He had a deep appreciation for nature's details, especially unique rocks, arrowheads, and artifacts, each with a story of where it was found. At home, he created "The Dicks Forest," a bird and wildlife haven in his yard, where he enjoyed quietly watching the outside world. He preferred the peace of nature over crowds and felt most comfortable outdoors. Richard also gave back to his community by teaching kids how to box and volunteering for several years with the Conrad Smoker. Richard is survived by his wife, Deena Maier; his daughters, Kris (Paul) Holmes and Kim (Bill) Haar; his stepchildren, Sean (Shannon) Hofstad, Kris (Ashton) Hofstad, Amber (Casey) Hofstad-Vandenacre, and Nick (Andrea) Hofstad; two granddaughters; eight step grandchildren; and his brother, Bob (Chris) Maier. People will remember Richard for his quiet strength, his deep love of the outdoors, his dedication to his students and family, and the many stories he carried and shared. He was also known for his fondness for 1990s Toyota pickups and his loyal companion, Yukon. In lieu of flowers, the family will be establishing a scholarship in Richard's name through Dollar for Scholars. Those wishing to contribute may do so by sending checks to Conrad Scholars, P.O. Box 787, Conrad, MT 59425. Please note on the check, in memory of Richard Maier. Your support will help honor Richard's legacy and benefit local students in his memory. Condolences can be made to www.asperfh.com. Skyline at Parkvale showcases impressive new homes with cutting-edge features LITTLETON, Colo., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc., is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of Skyline at Parkvale (RichmondAmerican.com/SkylineatParkvale) in Littleton. This highly anticipated addition to the Sterling Ranch masterplan offers thoughtfully crafted ranch and two-story homes with flexible layouts and innovative features that elevate everyday living. The Farmington is one of four stunning Richmond American floor plans available at Skyline at Parkvale in Littleton, Colorado. From pre-cut framing and premium concrete to blown-in blanket insulation and enhanced floor sheathing, each home at Skyline at Parkvale reflects a strong commitment to quality, performance, and long-term durability. These carefully selected elements deliver enhanced comfort, greater efficiency, and lasting value. The floor plans are thoughtfully designed with lifestyle features that enhance everyday convenience and comfort. Offering smart storage solutions, inviting shared spaces, and private areas for rest and relaxation, these homes are crafted to evolve with the changing needs of today's homebuyers. Grand Opening Event (RichmondAmerican.com/SkylineatParkvaleGO) Every aspect of this community has been reimaginedfrom construction and architecture to the sales center itselfcreating a welcoming space where visitors can envision a new life in a new home. As excitement for this neighborhood continues to build, area agents and prospective homebuyers are encouraged to visit Skyline at Parkvale on Saturday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a Grand Opening event. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy charcuterie, refreshments, model home tours, and a flower bouquet-making station. Community highlights: Four impressive floor plans Up to 7 bedrooms & approx. 4,940 sq. ft. Finished basements available for future flexibility Innovative construction techniques & smart storage On-site pool, fitness center, parks, & trails Close proximity to popular coffee shops, restaurants, & schools Easy access to Roxborough State Park Construction features: Blown-in blanket insulation: designed for superior energy efficiency, a snug fit, and reduced sound transfer designed for superior energy efficiency, a snug fit, and reduced sound transfer Enhanced floor sheathing: engineered for durability, reliability, and overall performance engineered for durability, reliability, and overall performance Optimized, pre-cut framing: designed for greater precision, improved structural alignment, and reduced material waste designed for greater precision, improved structural alignment, and reduced material waste Premium concrete: engineered for greater strength, durability, and environmental resilience Skyline at Parkvale is located at 8108 Spirea Lane in Littleton. Call 303.850.5750 or visit RichmondAmerican.com for more information. About Sekisui House U.S., Inc. Sekisui House U.S., Inc. continues a legacy that began in 1972 under its former name, M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. Among the largest homebuilders in the nation, Sekisui House U.S., Inc.'s homebuilding subsidiaries, including Richmond American Homes, have helped more than 250,000 homebuyers achieve the American Dream. The companies' commitment to quality construction, customer satisfaction and value is reflected in every home they build. The Richmond American Homes companies have operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Mortgage lending, insurance and title services are offered by the following Sekisui House U.S., Inc. subsidiaries, respectively: HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company. SOURCE Sekisui House U.S., Inc. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinnai America Corporation, a leading manufacturer of innovative, energy-efficient water heating and home comfort solutions, today announced the promotion of Perry McGuire to Senior Vice President, Legal, Government Affairs & People. In this expanded role, McGuire will continue to lead the company's legal function while also assuming oversight of People & Culture, further aligning Rinnai's people strategy with its long-term business objectives. Rinnai America Corporation, a leading manufacturer of innovative, energy-efficient water heating and home comfort solutions, today announced the promotion of Perry McGuire to Senior Vice President, Legal, Government Affairs & People. Since joining Rinnai in 2020 as Vice President and General Counsel, McGuire has played a critical role in strengthening the company's legal and compliance framework while supporting strategic growth initiatives across North America. A registered lobbyist, he has also helped spearhead Rinnai's efforts to protect consumer choice, advocating for federal, state and local legislation that preserves access to a full range of product and fuel options for homeowners and trade professionals. "Perry is a strong, strategic leader who has helped guide Rinnai through complex legal and policy issues while supporting our continued growth," said Frank Windsor, President of Rinnai America Corporation. "His leadership in protecting consumer choice and advancing our business makes him a natural fit for this expanded role as we continue our commitment to sustainable technology that creates a healthier way of living for all." In his new role, McGuire will oversee Rinnai's People & Culture function in addition to legal affairs, helping to support talent development, organizational alignment and employee engagement across the company. The promotion reflects Rinnai's confidence in McGuire's ability to help guide both the governmental landscape and its people through the company's next phase of growth. "I'm honored to take on this expanded role and continue building on the strong foundation we've established," said McGuire. "Rinnai's commitment to innovation, balanced energy policy and its people sets it apart, and I look forward to advancing our leadership across the industry." McGuire brings more than two decades of legal and executive leadership experience across corporate law, government affairs and business strategy. Prior to joining Rinnai, he was a partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, where he practiced general corporate law with an emphasis on franchise, mergers and acquisitions, and governmental affairs. During that time, he served as an external legal partner to Rinnai for more than five years, supporting the company before formally joining its leadership team. He also previously served as a corporate attorney for Chick-fil-A Inc., is a former state Senator and 2006 candidate for Attorney General of Georgia. He holds a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University and bachelor's degree in finance from Valdosta State University. To learn more about Rinnai, visit www.rinnai.us. About Rinnai: Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances, including tankless water heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances, and heating and air conditioning units. As the technology leader in its industry, Rinnai is the largest gas appliance manufacturer in Japan and has the highest efficiency of any tankless water heater brand in the United States and Canada. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $3.3 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st-century products for the home and business, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and Creating a healthier way of living. For more information about Rinnai's entire product line, visit www.rinnai.us. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. Rinnai and Creating a healthier way of living are the registered trademarks of Rinnai Corporation used under license by Rinnai America Corporation. SOURCE Rinnai America Corporation NEW YORK, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of DNOW Inc. (NYSE: DNOW) resulting from allegations that DNOW Inc. may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased DNOW Inc. securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53946 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. What is this about: On February 20, 2026, StockStory published an article entitled "Why DNOW (DNOW) Shares Are Getting Obliterated Today." The article stated that DNOW shares fell "after the company reported disappointing fourth-quarter 2025 financial results, which included a significant loss and missed Wall Street's expectations." On this news, DNOW stock fell 19.1% on February 20, 2026. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more If you love beauty, or even just follow trends, youve probably heard of Tarte Cosmetics. From cult favorites like Shape Tape Concealer to its Maracuja Lip Plumps, the brand has earned a reputation for products that perform as beautifully as they photograph. Celebrities like Bebe Rexha swear by it, and weve found the best place to shop Tarte on sale. Tarte Tarte, Tarte Tarte!!! The only thing on ours brains is Tarte right now because they just released several new products including a new version of their viral Shape Tape Concealer. 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Enjoy a curler, mini, and full size mascara. Shop This bundle trio is only $22, and users say: 'I have tried to branch out and try other mascaras and I always just come back to this one. It's so amazing for length. I have longer lashes anyway, but when I use this mascara everyone asks if I have false lashes. It doesn't flake. It's perfect!!' Now is the best time to shop at Tarte, as most of their viral products are on sale on HSN. If you shop today using NEWHSN2026 at checkout, you save big with $20 off. We ourselves are going to be clicking add to cart on a few items, so take a peek and make sure to order before these savings disappear! Lucy Letby's barrister has been reported to the Bar Standards Board for alleged professional misconduct, the Daily Mail has learned. Families of the killer nurse's victims are understood to have made a formal complaint about Mark McDonald to the legal regulator. They are angry that the names of their children were included in a letter, sent by the former neo-natal nurse's defence team to a coroner, which was subsequently leaked to a Sunday newspaper. Strict reporting restrictions imposed by a High Court judge forbids the publication of the identities of any of the babies involved in the case. At a pre-inquest hearing last month, Jacqueline Devonish, senior coroner for Cheshire, questioned how the Sunday Times had got hold of the correspondence, which was written by Mr McDonald's then-instructing solicitors and requested that Letby be afforded 'interested party' status in upcoming inquests into the deaths of her victims, before she'd had a chance to reply. Ms Devonish added that it was 'very concerning' that the letter included the babies' full names. In a chastening exchange, the coroner suggested to Mr McDonald that, whoever sent the letter to the newspaper, had been 'reckless.' Mr McDonald insisted the press already knew the babies' names, no reporting restrictions had been breached and that neither he nor his solicitors had 'sent the letter to anyone other than yourself.' 'There's been no professional misconduct,' he said. Mark McDonald (pictured) has been reported to the Bar Standards Board Lucy Letby, 36, is serving a record 15 whole life terms after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more - one of whom she attacked twice - at the Countess of Chester Hospital, between June 2015 and June 2016. But Richard Baker KC, representing the families, told the same hearing his clients had been 'extremely distressed' to learn their babies' names had been 'recklessly disclosed to a third party.' 'As far as the families are concerned those names are not to be bandied about,' he said. Ms Devonish warned Mr McDonald against any further leaks, saying: 'Otherwise I will report (it) to the regulatory authorities.' A spokesman for the Bar Standards Board said it 'did not comment' on 'whether or not information about potential misconduct' had been made against an individual barrister. He said complaints were 'usually' dealt with confidentially unless listed for a disciplinary tribunal hearing. No listing has been made for Mr McDonald to date. But a source said preliminary investigations were underway. Making a complaint about a barrister to their professional regulator is the equivalent of a doctor being referred to the General Medical Council. The ultimate sanction for barristers found guilty of professional misconduct is disbarment - removal from the professional register. Mr McDonald told the Daily Mail: 'I am unaware of any complaint made against me to the Bar Standards Board. 'It is telling that, rather than engaging with the arguments of 30 world-leading experts that show that Lucy Letby is an innocent woman, there is yet another attempt to attack my professional integrity and a clear attempt to undermine Ms Letby's defence.' Letby, 36, was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more at the Countess of Chester Hospital, between June 2015 and June 2016. Subscribe to The Crime Desk to listen to this podcast. A subscription includes ad-free listening, early access to new shows and bonus episodes She has always maintained her innocence and, although she has twice failed to be granted to leave to appeal her convictions, Mr McDonald has submitted new expert medical reports to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the body which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, in the hope the Court of Appeal with hear her case a third time. Inquests into the death of five of her victims were opened and adjourned by Ms Devonish last month. The coroner agreed to grant Letby 'interested party' status, which means her lawyers will be entitled to receive evidence, ask questions to witnesses and make legal arguments during the full inquests. Earlier this month the Mail revealed Letby had appointed another barrister, Anton van Dellen, who once stood trial and was acquitted of grooming a teenage boy for sex, to represent her in those hearings, which have been scheduled for September. The son of a renowned anesthesiologist accused of trying to push his wife off a Hawaii cliff hinted that he has disowned his father in court - and undermined his defense for the alleged crime. Gerhardt Konig, 47, is accused of attacking his nuclear engineer wife Arielle Konig, 37, on Hawaii's Nu'uanu hiking trail near the Pali Lookout on March 24, 2025. Konig's son Emile took the stand in his father's attempted murder trial yesterday and referred to him as 'the defendant,' but called his stepmother by her nickname 'Ari'. Emile, 20, only referred to Konig as 'father' once during his testimony, when specifically asked to describe how the pair were related, hinting that the relationship between father and son is badly fractured. Konig videocalled his son in the aftermath of the alleged assault and admitted that he tried to kill Arielle, Emile told the court. Emile recalled how Konig said 'that he would not be making it back to Maui, and to take good care of the younger kids, and that Ari, my stepmom had been cheating on him, and that he tried to kill her'. Konig then said he planned to 'jump off a cliff,' Emile testified, adding: 'I told him not to.' The defense has claimed that Arielle attacked Konig first, but Emile's testimony has seemingly cast doubt on that claim, with the young man claiming Konig never mentioned self-defense during their calls. Gerhardt Konig's son Emile took the stand in his father's attempted murder trial yesterday, telling the court that his father admitted to trying to kill Arielle Konig Konig stares on as his son Emile testifies how he said 'that he would not be making it back to Maui, and to take good care of the younger kids' Emile and Konig shared two Facetime calls after the alleged attack, the court heard. Konig admitted to the attack during the first call and then asked if he told anyone about the incident during the second, Emile said. 'I told him who I told my grandparents and my mother,' he said, referring to Arielle's parents and his biological mother who lives in Pennsylvania. Konig then told him: 'I'm going to go before the police catch me.' Emile added: 'He said he was at the end of his rope.' Deputy Prosecutor Joel Garner then asked Emile: 'Did he say anything about self-defense?' Emile replied: 'No.' Garner doubled down on the question once more, asking: 'Did the defendant say anything about Arielle attacking him?' The anser was 'no' again. The renowned anesthesiologist is accused of trying to push wife Arielle Konig off a hiking trail at the Nuuanu Pali Lookout in Oahu Arielle Konig is seen on police-worn body camera footage after she was allegedly attacked by her husband, Gerhardt Konig, on March 24, 2025 Emile told the court that the only reason Konig ever offered for the attack was Arielle's infidelity after she exchanged flirtatious text messages with a colleague. He is seemingly close to his stepmother, having told jurors how he and his two brothers continue to live with her. The defense seemingly tried to raise skepticism in the validity of his testimony, by highlighting how Emile's recollection of the events has changed over time. 'You could tell your dad was distressed?' Konig's attorney Thomas Otake asked during his cross-examination. Emile replied: 'No.' 'You remember your dad was trying to stay calm, but was distressed?' Mr Otake asked again, rephrasing his question. 'No,' Emile answered. 'He didn't sound distressed. He sounded calm.' But the defense pulled the statement Emile made to Maui police, in which he claimed Konig 'sounded distressed but he sounded like he was trying to stay calm'. Arielle's mother Judith Mast, who also took the stand Tuesday, noted that Emile was 'shaking, crying, very upset' after receiving the calls from Konig. Konig feeds Arielle cake on their wedding day in 2018 Prosecutors allege that Konig attacked Arielle out of the blue on the cliff edge of the picturesque hiking spot, before two other walkers saw them during the struggle. The nuclear engineer, who took the stand on her birthday last week, told the court how Konig 'forcefully' grabbed her by her arms and pushed her toward a cliff. 'He said, "I'm so f***ing sick of this s***, get back over there" and he starts pushing me back toward the cliff,' Arielle testified. Arielle said she threw herself to the ground, but Konig started straddling her and tried to inject her with a syringe, the jury heard. She allegedly knocked the syringe away and tried to fight him off, but he responded by repeatedly hitting her in the head with a rock. She told the court he 'used his full force' when he struck her and, with tears in her eyes, lifted her bangs to show the court the scar that still remains from the incident. Konig admits to bashing Arielle over the head with a rock at an Oahu beauty spot in March 2025, but claims she attacked him first. His attorney also argued the incident was a 'human reaction' to Arielle's three-month-long affair with her co-worker. Prosecutors alleged Konig tried to push his wife over a cliff and bash her over the head with a jagged rock on the Nuuanu Pali Lookout hiking trail Jurors were shown this photo of Konig at the beauty spot, which had been posted to Arielle's Snapchat Earlier in the trial, jurors saw an image of Arielle after the alleged attack, showing her with blood seeping from her head and face after apparently being struck by the rock. Mr Otake said her injuries were not as bad as they looked in the picture and said she only suffered a small laceration to her eyebrow, also arguing the trial should be an assault case rather than attempted murder. But a physician from Queen's Medical Center testified about Arielle's injuries last week, claiming she had suffered crushed tissue down to the skull. She also had small pieces of rock embedded in her skin, the doctor told the court. Mr Otake previously told the court that Konig attacked Arielle after she picked up a rock and struck him in the face with it: 'He quickly reacts, human reaction, grabs the rock, hits her twice, and stops.' But prosecutors allege Konig tried to push his wife off a ledge on the trail and attempted to stab her with a syringe before beating her with a jagged rock. The attack only ended when the two female hikers heard her pleas for help and called 911, the prosecution argued. Konig's lawyers, however, said police never found a syringe or evidence that he tried to inject his wife with any substance. The couple had a $1.5 million home in Maui, the secon-largest island in Hawaii The anesthesiologist fled the scene after the attack. He called Emile, confessed to attacking Arielle and said he was going to take his own life, audio of the conversation showed. An eight-hour manhunt ensued in the dense woodland. Just after the search was called off for the night, three police officers spotted Konig running out of the forest before chasinf him down and arresting him. The prosecution rested Tuesday. Konig, who has pleaded not guilty, is expected to testify today. Notorious serial killer Ted Bundy has been identified as the murderer of a teenage girl who vanished on Halloween night more than half a century ago. Laura Ann Aime, 17, was last seen alive at a party in Utah County on October 31, 1974, when she told friends she was heading out to buy cigarettes. She never returned. Around a month later on November 27, 1974, her naked body was found in an embankment up in the mountains near American Fork Canyon Road. The teen had been raped and strangled. For decades, her murder has been linked to Bundy, with the serial killer giving a deathbed confession to killing Aime and at least 29 other victims before he was sent to the electric chair in January 1989. But, her case remained unsolved for the next 37 years, with investigators needing more evidence to close the investigation once and for all. That evidence finally arrived in the way of a breakthrough in DNA evidence last month. In a press conference on Wednesday, Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith announced that advanced DNA testing of bodily fluids found on the victim had proven Bundy to be the killer once and for all. Although Bundy did claim that he committed the murder of Laura, the confession he gave was deemed to be not enough evidence to close the case and rule out any other party having had committed this crime, as had been speculated at the time, Smith said. Laura Ann Aime, 17, disappeared on October 31, 1974, while staying with friends. She has now been confirmed as a victim of Ted Bundy Serial killer Ted Bundy in the courtroom at his murder trial where he represented himself Fortunately, we have had new forensics techniques become available through our partnership with the Utah Department of Public Safety crime lab that made the closure of this case possible. The advanced DNA technology was able to separate mixed DNA profiles found on the victim to identify a single male profile. That profile was then found to be a match to a profile on file in Florida. That profile belonged to Bundy. 'We can now say, without a doubt, Ted Bundy did kill Laura Ann Aime,' Smith said. This case is now officially closed.' Aimes sister Michelle Impala, who was just 12 when her sibling was murdered, said it was amazing that people were still interested in solving her case after all this time. Impala remembered her sister for her love of horses and other animals, having grown up on a farm before the family moved to Utah County. Her sister would be really happy to know that her case was no longer cold, she said - adding that she was glad her killer is 'in hell.' 'Just to know that Ted Bundy is gnashing his teeth in hell - I hate to think people are doing that, but with him and a few other people in the world, thats what they deserve,' she said. On Wednesday, the investigators hinted that this was only the beginning of a new push to solve cold cases linked to one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. Sgt Mike Reynolds said that, through this case, Bundy's full DNA profile is now on file and can be used by law enforcement agencies across the country for comparison. One other case linked to Bundy is already close to being solved, he added. Photo of evidence gathered by police in one of the cases against Ted Bundy. The serial killer confessed to killing 30 victims Florida State University's Chi Phi fraternity celebrates the execution of Ted Bundy with a large banner that says 'Watch Ted Fry, See Ted Die!' Over a four-year reign of terror from 1974 to 1978, Bundy murdered at least 30 women across seven states. And those are only the murders he confessed to. The true extent of his crimes - and how many years he preyed on women - will likely never be known. Aimes murder came not long after Bundy moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in the fall of 1974 to study law at the University of Utah. By then, he had already murdered at least nine women across Oregon, Washington and Idaho and went on to kill at least five victims in Utah. Just days after Aime's murder, he attacked Carol DaRonch - a botched kidnapping that finally landed him on law enforcement's radar for the first time. When DaRonch managed to escape and helped identify Bundy as her attacker, he was arrested and convicted of aggravated kidnapping. While serving a one to 15-year sentence, he was transferred to Colorado to face charges for the 1975 murder of nurse Caryn Campbell. There, he managed to escape by jumping out of the window of a courthouse law library and going on the run. He hid out in the mountains for several days before he was recaptured. Back behind bars in another jail in Colorado, Bundy then managed to escape a second time on December 30, 1977. Within two weeks of that latest jailbreak, the man who was then placed on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted list had made it all the way to the East Coast. Ted Bundy in Leon County jail in Tallahassee, Florida, in July 1978 after being charged with the murders of two Chi Omega students A woman looks out of the second story balcony of the Chi Omega sorority house on January 15 1978 - hours after Bundy broke in and went on a violent rampage It was there, in the early hours of January 15, 1978, that he broke into the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University in Tallahassee and went room to room, attacking young women as they slept in their beds. He murdered two students Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy and left their sorority sisters Karen Pryor and Kathy Kleiner seriously wounded before fleeing to an apartment a few blocks away where he attacked another student Cheryl Thomas. Around a month later, Bundy was captured for the final time. By then, he had claimed the life of another victim, 12-year-old Kimberly Leach. During a high-profile trial that captured the nation's attention, the serial killer - who had studied law at the University of Puget Sound and the University of Utah - represented himself, forcing his surviving victims to endure cross-examination by the man who had tried to kill them. On July 24, 1979, he was found guilty of the murders of Levy and Bowman, as well as the attempted murders of Pryor, Kleiner and Thomas and burglary. He was sentenced to death. After sitting on death row for a decade, on January 24, 1989, Bundy was strapped to the electric chair in Floridas state penitentiary and executed. His final words were: I'd like you to give my love to my family and friends. When NASA's Artemis II lifts off from the launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida on Wednesday evening, it will be sold as a symbolic return to the space race for the United States. Keen observers understand it to be something far more concrete. America is sending astronauts back toward the moon again, in the first crewed test flight since Apollo 17's landed on the lunar surface in December 1972. NASA has said the Artemis campaign is about laying the groundwork for future Mars missions, harnessing space's economic benefits and creating an enduring human presence beyond Earth. It's alsoas is anything these days in the United Statesabout heading off China's own lunar land grab: Washington wants to remain in front of Beijing's own plans to put a man on the moon by 2030. But Artemis appears to be the opening step in a much more consequential infrastructure race that also pits Washington against Beijinga giant leap toward an extraterrestrial AI future. And the program has attracted an unlikely new advocate. Elon Musk's ambitions in outer space have shifted significantly in recent months. Last year, he was maligning the Artemis mission as 'extremely inefficient' and 'a jobs-maximizing program, not a results-maximizing' one. NASA has said the campaign to launch the Artemis-II rocket (above) is about laying the groundwork for future Mars missions, harnessing space's economic benefits and creating an enduring human presence beyond Earth America is sending astronauts back toward the moon again, in the first crewed test flight since Apollo 17's landed on the lunar surface in December 1972 Last year Elon Musk maligned the Artemis mission as 'extremely inefficient' and 'a jobs-maximizing program, not a results-maximizing' one What a difference a year makes. Despite dismissing lunar efforts as a distraction from the human colony that he envisions building on Mars, Musk now calls Artemis a vital step in the development of spaceflight. In February he posted to his millions of followers that getting to the moon was actually quite a good idea. 'SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the Moon, as we can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years,' he wrote. 'SpaceX will also strive to build a Mars city and begin doing so in about 5 to 7 years, but the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster,' he added. Around the same time, he made a public push to develop space-based AI data centers, arguing that the energy, land and cooling constraints choking terrestrial data centers including his own in Memphis, which was accused of illegally operating gas turbines to power its production make orbit increasingly attractive. AI data centers are integral to the future of the technology. They're vast buildings housing the computer chips vital to AI's operations, and help train new, more proficient models, while also enabling 'inference' - the ability for AI systems to answer the questions and tackle the tasks users put to them. But they require a lot of energy and water to work, and are already straining power grids and national budgets. NASA's own language hints at that promise: they've talked about the systems needed to support sustained operations on and around the moon. Make the moon a place to work, service hardware, warehouse supplies and test power systems, and it quickly stops being just a scientific outpost and becomes a strategic foothold. Elon Musk has made a public push to develop space-based AI data centers, arguing that the energy, land and cooling constraints choking terrestrial data centerssuch as this one in Virginia make orbit increasingly attractive. And if space-based data centers are to become a thing in the near future, then it's important to plant your flagliterallyon the next frontier of where they'll be built in order to compete against China, who has the same ability to launch its taikonauts (the Chinese version of astronauts) into space. Like Musk, the Chinese also possess grand ambitions when it comes to space-based AI programs. Perhaps even more so. In January, China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationBeijing's main space contractorannounced plans to directly challenge Musk and SpaceX and develop its own 'gigawatt-class space digital-intelligence infrastructure.' Their goal is to construct industrial-scale 'space clouds' by 2030 thatas Musk envisionswill utilize space-based solar power to fuel AI-generation, storage and transmission. Thanks to his successful Falcon 9 reusable rocket program, Musk remains ahead of the Chinesewhich have yet to develop a rocket capable of the repeat launches required to reliably and affordably offshore AI infrastructure into orbit. But with China making 'space clouds' a centerpoint of their latest 'five-year plan,' the Artemis launch sends a clear message that the USand Muskrefuse to concede their leads to a rogue competitor regime like the CCP. Of course, it's unlikely either astronauts or taikonauts will be floating by space-borne data centers any time soon. Beyond the challenges of keeping solar radiation and interstellar debris at bay, the maintenance and launch demands make repairing hyperscale computers in orbit harder than swapping a server blade in Scranton. We're still, even by the most optimistic estimates, the best part of a decade awayif everfrom having space-based AI data centers operating, despite China's shorter-term ambitions. Yet the one thing Musk's fans and opponents can agree on is that his life story is the history of turning ridiculous-sounding infrastructure claims into realities for everyone else. Thanks to his successful Falcon 9 reusable rocket program, Musk remains ahead of the Chinesewhich have yet to develop a rocket capable of the repeat launches required to reliably and affordably offshore AI infrastructure into orbit China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has released a five-year to construct industrial-scale 'space clouds' by 2030 Reusable rockets once seemed fanciful. Musk's SpaceX now throws them up into air and catches them in a complicated chopsticks maneuver with alarming regularity. A satellite internet constellation on the scale of Starlink seemed like science fiction, until you could log onto it while flying in a plane cross-country. So even if space-based AI data centers arrive later than Musk claims, the logic behind them is not hard to grasp. AI's all-encompassing appetite for electricity, land and water is exploding. And space provides a seemingly limitless location for power centers with no environmentally-sensitive communities to piss off and a (theoretically) endless supply of power from the sun. Of course, there are plenty of reasons for returning to the moon. Artemis long predates Musk's current fixation on the moon. But if you did want to build a future in which vast amounts of reliable AI compute sit off Earth, you would need more than rockets flung up from Cape Canaveral every so often. You would need a reliable logistics chain. You would need fuel, power, maintenance capability, robotic systems, communications, rules for access and some kind of permanent operational base beyond low Earth orbit. You'd need, in other words, exactly the sort of ecosystem Artemis is slowly, expensively and publicly trying to create. Artemis is meant to help build a lunar economy and support an expanding space economy, says NASA. Just last week, NASA shelved plans for a revolving space station circulating around the moon, the Lunar Gateway, in favor of a $20 billion permanent base on the lunar surface. 'It should not really surprise anyone that we are pausing Gateway in its current form and focusing on infrastructure that supports sustained operations on the lunar surface,' said NASA head honcho Jared Isaacman. Investors are already putting serious money into off-planet AI infrastructure. Yes, Artemis is about America returning to the moon. Yes, it's about heading off China's increasingly aggressive advances. And yes, it's about science. But it may also be the first serious public build-out for a much more sci-fi-style future where the race of AI supremacy goes extraterrestrial. DUBAI, UAE, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- RYOEX, a rising leader in the global financial services sector, has been officially named the "Best Forex Broker Asia 2026" by TrustFXNews, a premier media platform specializing in forex and fintech. The prestigious accolade recognizes brokers that demonstrate exceptional performance in regional market development, trading technology, and client experience. TrustFXNews, an official media partner of the Dubai Forex Expo 2025, evaluated nominees based on rigorous criteria, including trading infrastructure, execution quality, and operational transparency. Driving Innovation in the Asian Market RYOEX's selection stems from its rapid growth and localized, user-centric strategy. Driven by its mission, "Supporting Global Traders, Realize Your Opportunity," the firm provides a secure, high-performance environment for traders across the continent. Key factors contributing to RYOEX's win include: Regulatory Excellence: Strong emphasis on compliance with international registrations, including U.S. FinCEN (MSB). Strong emphasis on compliance with international registrations, including U.S. FinCEN (MSB). Cutting-Edge Technology: Full integration with the cTrader platform, offering an intuitive interface and transparent pricing. Full integration with the platform, offering an intuitive interface and transparent pricing. Competitive Trading Conditions: Industry-leading features such as spreads from 0 pips, dynamic leverage up to 2000:1, and ultra-fast execution speeds of less than 30ms. A Commitment to Excellence "RYOEX has demonstrated strong momentum in Asia by combining regulatory awareness with advanced infrastructure," commented TrustFXNews. "Their focus on usability and regional strategy positions them as one of the most promising brokers in today's landscape." From a product perspective, RYOEX offers a comprehensive suite of CFD instruments, including Forex, Metals, Energies, Indices, Stocks, and Cryptocurrencies, ensuring a diversified experience for both beginner and professional traders. About RYOEX RYOEX is a global forex broker dedicated to delivering advanced trading technology, transparent operations, and localized services. With a primary focus on the Asian market, RYOEX empowers traders through secure fund management and world-class execution environments. About TrustFXNews TrustFXNews is an international media and research platform focused on forex, CFDs, and fintech, providing industry insights, broker analysis, and global market intelligence. Media Contact: Ryoex: [email protected] SOURCE RYOEX It started with symptoms that were easy to explain away. A tightness in her chest that felt like indigestion. Muscles that twitched and spasmed without warning. The occasional dizzy spell that came and went. And a strange sensation that her vision was subtly shaking, as though the world itself had begun to vibrate. For Becky Lee, then a fit and energetic 21-year-old, none of it seemed serious enough to dwell on. There was always a logical reason a vitamin deficiency, perhaps, or stress, or simply one of those vague physical quirks that come and go in your twenties. And so she carried on, pushing the symptoms to the back of her mind. But over time, they didnt go away. They crept further into her daily life affecting her balance, her strength, even her eyesight. Still, she told herself it was nothing. Because, as she now admits, part of her simply didnt want to know. A decade later, Becky, from Bristol, has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), an incurable neurological condition that affects around 150,000 in the UK. Today, with hindsight, she realises the warning signs were there all along. Becky Lee began experiencing early symptoms of multiple sclerosis - known as MS - in 2015 Recalling those early, mysterious symptoms that began in 2015, Becky, now 32, a project manager, says: I always had an explanation. I assumed the spasms were due to a vitamin deficiency. And the tightness in my chest was reflux or weight-related. That year, she sought medical advice and was told she was suffering from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), a condition involving inflammation and damage to the central nervous system that often precedes MS. Although she was advised she could continue living normally, doctors warned that it could develop into the disease. At the time, cases of MS in Britain were already rising. In 2019, around 130,000 were thought to be living with the condition. Today, that figure has climbed by more than 20,000. Experts say the rise in MS cases is largely driven by better diagnosis and people living longer with the condition though growing evidence suggests environmental and lifestyle factors, from Vitamin D deficiency to viral infections, may also influence who develops the disease. Lucy Taylor, chief executive of the MS Trust, has said: These new figures highlight a problem we already knew existed. There are simply not enough neurologists and MS specialists to support people living with multiple sclerosis. Every day, our helpline hears from people living with MS, struggling to get access to the care they need. This is just not acceptable. We fully support the MS Society in their call for the Government to urgently address the shortage of neurologists and MS specialists in the UK. Meanwhile, Beckys own symptoms continued to worsen in the years following her CIS diagnosis. She began experiencing persistent dizziness, problems with balance and weakness down her left side along with ongoing visual disturbances that she struggled to make sense of. Becky was 21 when she began feeling tightness in her chest and experienced dizzy spells She is now calling for greater awareness of the signs that can prove to be the onset of MS I remember looking at signs or something in the distance and feeling like it was always slightly shaking or vibrating, she says. But my eye tests always came back normal, so I assumed it was something everyone experienced. I also had significant weakness on my left side. Over time, the muscle deteriorated more than normal. Looking back, these were early warning signs. I didnt realise they were connected. Despite this, when she was offered an MRI scan five years after her initial symptoms began, she chose not to go ahead. I was young and fearful of how a diagnosis could change my future, she says. Living without a formal one felt easier than facing reality. According to the NHS, MS affects everyone differently, but common early symptoms include vision problems, fatigue, numbness, tingling, muscle spasms and balance issues many of which Becky experienced. The condition can also cause bladder problems, memory difficulties and sexual issues, such as vaginal dryness or difficulty achieving an erection. Sarah Rawlings, executive director of research and external affairs at the MS Society, said: There's a wide range of early signs and symptoms of MS including vision problems, fatigue, numbness, tingling, spasms and balance issues but many can also be symptoms of other conditions. If youre concerned you might have MS, it's important to speak to your GP, as early diagnosis and treatment can improve your long-term outlook. They'll be able to check for any other possible causes too. While an MS diagnosis can be overwhelming, there is brilliant support available including our free MS Help Hub, which offers support and information for those who need it. Eventually, as her condition deteriorated, Becky underwent further tests. In February 2023, she was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) the most common form of the disease, in which symptoms flare up and then ease in cycles. It is difficult to know if an earlier diagnosis would've changed anything, she says. Its invisible, from the outside, and I look completely fine. But, inside, Im dealing with fatigue, weakness and dizziness each day. She describes the first year after diagnosis as 'terrifying', and says the condition has forced her to rethink how she lives her life. Now receiving treatment with the neurologist-prescribed drug Kesimpta to help slow progression, she is learning to manage her symptoms day by day. Its forced me to adapt my life, she says. I have to be more mindful of my energy levels and slow down more than I used to. I also focus on managing fatigue to help with day-to-day symptoms. Its unpredictable, which can make the future seem uncertain at times. Lots of people with MS probably feel the same. For now, I try to focus on living my life as best as possible rather than worrying too much about what might happen. Now, she is urging others not to ignore the kind of subtle warning signs she once brushed aside. Alzheimer's Society's symptoms checker can help spot the signs of dementia Taking a daily Vitamin D supplement could help protect against dementia, a new study suggests. Researchers found that people with higher levels of the vitamin in midlife had lower levels of a key Alzheimer's-related protein in the brain years later. The protein, known as tau, is strongly linked to the disease, with build-up thought to help drive it. 'These results suggest that higher Vitamin D levels in midlife may offer protection against developing these tau deposits in the brain,' said Martin David Mulligan from the University of Galway in Ireland. 'Low Vitamin D levels could potentially be a risk factor that could be modified to reduce the risk of dementia.' The research followed 793 people with an average age of 39 who did not have dementia. All participants had their blood Vitamin D levels measured at the start of the study. Brain scans were performed an average of 16 years later to measure tau and amyloid beta proteins, both markers of Alzheimer's disease. High Vitamin D levels were defined as above 30 nanograms per millilitre a level most experts say is enough for good bone and overall health. Around a third of participants were below this, and just five per cent were regularly taking supplements. A new study suggests taking a Vitamin D supplement could help protect against dementia Your browser does not support iframes. Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP. Symptom Checklist The researchers also took into account factors such as age, sex, and symptoms of depression, which can all influence both vitamin D levels and dementia risk. The study, published in Neurology Open Access, found that higher Vitamin D levels were linked to lower tau protein, but there was no connection with amyloid beta. 'These findings are promising, as they suggest a link between higher Vitamin D levels in early middle age and lower tau burden 16 years later,' Mulligan said. 'Midlife is a time where risk factor modification can have a greater impact.' A limitation of the study is that Vitamin D levels were measured only once. Often called the 'sunshine vitamin', Vitamin D is unique because the body can produce it when exposed to sunlight. It acts more like a hormone than a traditional vitamin, influencing many processes in the body. Health experts recommend adults over 65 take a daily supplement of 10 micrograms of Vitamin D, especially if they are frail, housebound, or get little sun exposure. As we age, cells gradually become damaged and release chemicals that drive inflammation, while the body becomes less able to repair itself. This increases the risk of illnesses such as cancer, dementia, and heart disease. Scientists are exploring whether it is possible to slow or even reverse this biological ageing process. A recent study found that taking a daily multivitamin may slow the body's biological clock. Researchers found that older adults who took the supplements every day for two years aged more slowly at a cellular level an effect roughly equal to reducing their biological age by about four months. The findings, published in the journal Nature Medicine, showed that participants who took the multivitamin experienced slower ageing across five DNA-based ageing measures compared with those taking a placebo. The trial was led by researchers at Massachusetts General Brigham using data from the COSMOS trial, a large US study investigating the health effects of supplements. Scientists say the findings suggest multivitamins could be a simple, accessible way to support healthier ageing, although the benefits were modest. A highly mutated COVID variant known as cicada is now spreading in at least 25 states across the US. The troubling novel variant is believed to be more adept than past variants at evading immunity conferred by vaccines and prior exposure to Covid due to a vast number of mutations on its spike protein. The variant's spike protein the part vaccines teach the immune system to identify and attack has picked up around 75 mutations. This makes it appear like a completely new threat to the immune system compared to other recent strains. Nationally, Covid cases are still low, but the so-called cicada variant is steadily spreading across at least 25 states and around the world. BA.3.2 emerged over a year ago and remained relatively quiet until last autumn, when it started surging in multiple countries, the US among them. Covid strains mutate constantly the more widely they spread, picking up new alterations to its genomic makeup, resulting in new, never-before-seen variant strains that can sometimes cause more severe disease. The symptoms of the Cicada variant mirror those of other COVID strains. According to the CDC, these include runny or stuffy nose, fever, headache, fatigue, sneezing, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss or alteration of smell and taste. Additionally, some newer variants have been associated with razorblade throat, a term used to describe an excruciatingly painful sore throat. While Covid numbers are still low across the country, the cicada variant is gaining ground in at least 25 states and worldwide (stock) Your browser does not support iframes. While there is no indication yet that the cicada variant is definitely more virulent, experts worry that, because it is entirely novel, American immune systems are unprepared for what could be a spring surge. Because of this, public health officials are keeping a close eye on the hyper-mutated strain. In December 2025, the World Health Organization designated BA.3.2 as a variant under monitoring. The cicada nickname comes from Dr T Ryan Gregory, an evolutionary biology professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada who has also coined other variant names such as stratus and pirola. Cicada first started infecting people in South Africa in late 2024. It was overshadowed by other variants temporarily, but made a resurgence and began infecting people in the US about a year later. It is not the dominant strain circulating in the US, though; that distinction goes to an omicron sub lineage called XFG. However, it is currently behind roughly 30 percent of cases in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. According to CDC wastewater data, as of the week ending March 21, BA.3.2 now accounts for 11 percent of Covid variants circulating nationally. Two laboratory studies have shown that BA.3.2 does not attach to human cells as effectively as other variants, a limitation that may be preventing it from spreading more rapidly. BA.3.2 first arrived in the U.S. on June 27, 2025, when a traveler arriving from the Netherlands tested positive at San Francisco International Airport. Your browser does not support iframes. Reports began to mount in early September 2025 but, according to the CDC, limited surveillance capabilities in many countries mean those detections likely underrepresent the actual geographic extent of spread. In the US, wastewater surveillance picked up BA.3.2 in Rhode Island that November, which was months ahead of any clinical cases. The first patients were reported in early January 2026: two older hospitalized adults with underlying health conditions that can worsen infection and a young child. All of them recovered. By February 2026, the variant had turned up in a handful of international travelers, a small number of clinical patients and over 130 wastewater samples spanning two dozen states. To monitor BA.3.2, the CDC relies on three key data sources: national lab testing, airport screening of international travelers including voluntary nasal swabs and airplane wastewater, and a nationwide wastewater surveillance system that tracks about 1,450 sewer sites. These systems detected the variant's arrival in the US in June 2025, months before it reached hospitals. When a BA.3.2 sample is found, scientists analyze its genetic code and compare it to current vaccines to identify changes. They use software to align sequences and build evolutionary trees showing how different strains are connected. Every detection is recorded by location and date, enabling the CDC to map the variant's first appearance and track its spread in real time, providing officials with a clear view of how the variant is evolving. By February 11, 2026, BA.3.2 had been identified in at least 23 countries. Among them, four U.S. travelers tested positive through the TGS program after returning from Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom The latest Covid vaccine, formulated for the 2025-2026 season, works well against the JN.1 strains that remain dominant nationwide. But when tested against seven variants in a lab setting, it showed its weakest performance against BA.3.2. This indicates the vaccine may offer less protection against this variant though real-world data is still required to know for certain. Even so, while BA.3.2 appears skilled at evading immunity, the current vaccines still guard against severe disease. Most people with COVID-19 can recover at home with rest and over-the-counter symptom relief. However, the CDC advises seeking medical care if you experience trouble breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, new confusion, inability to stay awake or wake up or bluish lips or face. These can be signs of severe illness requiring immediate attention. Additionally, if you are at higher risk for severe disease due to age, underlying health conditions or a weakened immune system, it is a good idea to contact a doctor promptly after testing positive, as antiviral treatments may be available to reduce your risk of hospitalization. If your watchlist is looking a little tired then fear not: Netflix is back with a fresh batch of April arrivals to keep you hooked. From a riveting look inside one of America's most shocking sects to the return of a much loved documentary, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to spring binge-watching material. Keep scrolling for the six new releases we've got marked in our calendar... Trust Me: The False Prophet Release date: 8th April Trust Me: The False Prophet is a four-part documentary that tracks the rise of Samuel Bateman, a self-proclaimed leader within a breakaway Mormon sect, through the eyes of a couple who embed themselves inside his community. Cult expert Christine Marie and videographer Tolga Katas move to Short Creek, Utah, hoping to support a vulnerable group but quickly realise something more troubling is unfolding. As Batemans control tightens, particularly over the group's women, the pair begin documenting what they see, gathering first-hand accounts and footage from within the group. Big Mistakes Release date: 9th April Loved Schitt's Creek? Co-creator and star Dan Levy returns with Big Mistakes, a darkly comic crime series that swaps small-town antics for something far more dangerous. He plays Nicky, one half of a pair of deeply incapable siblings who attempt a minor theft for their dying grandmother only for it to spiral into organised crime. Alongside his sister Morgan, hes quickly dragged into a world theyre completely unequipped to navigate, and as the stakes rise, so does the chaos. I Love LA and Bottoms Rachel Sennott is co-producing, so prepare for some serious lols. At Home with the Furys Release date: 12th April At Home with the Furys returns for a second series, following heavyweight champion Tyson Fury as he attempts to stick to retirement and settle into life beyond the ring in Morecambe Bay. With wife Paris Fury, their seven children and his ever-opinionated father John Fury always close by, Tyson quickly discovers that slowing down doesnt come naturally to him. From family trips to Monaco to new business ventures, he channels his competitive energy into anything that keeps him busy. Meanwhile, Paris has plenty to keep her busy, balancing family life with new projects, while organising two major milestones: a lavish sixteenth birthday and a vow renewal for her and Tyson that promises plenty of drama. BEEF Season 2 Release date: 16th April Prepare for a brand-new feud, this time swapping road rage for something arguably even more toxic. This time, a Gen Z couple, Ashley and Austin, find themselves drawn into the unraveling marriage of their millennial boss and his wife after a single incident at the country club where they work. What follows is a slow escalation of tension, with small slights, power plays and quiet manipulations rippling outward. With a fresh cast led by Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan, the second chapter leans into workplace dynamics and the quieter, simmering kind of resentment thats harder to spot but every bit as dramatic. A Gorilla Story Release date: 17th April A decades-ago encounter between David Attenborough and a baby gorilla named Pablo forms the starting point for this intimate documentary, which returns to the mountains of Rwanda to see how his descendants are living today. Blending archive footage with new material, the film draws on Attenboroughs original 1978 journals to trace the groups story across generations. Along the way, it captures rarely seen moments of gorilla behaviour, offering a closer look at their lives than ever before. Running Point Season 2 Release date: 23rd April Back for a second series, Running Point picks up with Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson), now firmly in charge of the Los Angeles Waves but under far more scrutiny than before. With the team recovering from last seasons scandal, shes determined to prove shes more than a temporary stand-in. The problem? Her brother Cam is quietly working behind the scenes to take back control, turning every slip-up into leverage. As Isla juggles the pressure of running a major franchise with the realities of her personal life, the stakes only get higher, both on and off the court. Should I Marry A Murderer? Release date: 29th April Three years after a violent crime is committed and carefully concealed, a young forensic pathologist, Caroline Muirhead, meets a man on a Tinder date and quickly falls in love. Their whirlwind romance leads to an engagement and a future that suddenly feels certain. But her fiance is hiding something horrific, and when he finally confides in her about a brutal killing and a body that was never found, Caroline is forced into an unthinkable position. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more From the classic pairing of spaghetti and tomato sauce to creamier, spicier and cheesier concoctions, pasta is one of the most versatile and delicious carbohydrates. Yet while the delightful food is mainly associated with Italy, most cultures have their own version, so it seems unsurprising that some may be more devoted to a particular type. But what exactly does your favourite pasta shape say about your values, behaviours and personality traits? According to Phil Macleod, hypnotherapist, psychologist and founder of Thought Reader, while your go-to pasta type may seem like a slightly irrelevant thought, it can actually reveal far more about you than initially presumed. Mr Macleod told the Daily Mail: 'Even small choices can say something about you. As a hypnotherapist, I spend a lot of time observing why people do what they do, and even something as simple as this can say a lot about you psychologically.' From signs you are adventurous and hard-working to evidence that you are holding onto your childhood friendship groups, the pasta shape you opt for during your weekly food shop can speak volumes about your fundamental values. Conducting an in-depth analysis of 12 popular pasta shapes, Mr Macleod has established the deeper meaning of your pasta preferences. Read on to discover what your favourite type of pasta says about you and perhaps which variations you should consider giving a try if you are hoping to enhance particular qualities. Spaghetti According to Mr Macleod, this versatile and budget-friendly pasta option is one for those that favour familiarity and an easy cooking routine. From a bowl of spaghetti bolognese to more elaborate pasta dishes, spaghetti is often favoured by many Brits hoping to cook a quick and easy dinner. If spaghetti is your go-to option, Mr Macleod suggests you have a tendency to like 'things simple and familiar'. He added that spaghetti fans are 'reliable, easy-going, and don't overcomplicate life. Seen as a traditionalist, humble and down to earth'. Orecchiette Originating from the Italian word for 'ear', orecchiette holds a rough texture and can be combined with delicious sauces to create a tasty meal. With a unique design, this pasta choice is perhaps one for those feeling more creative. According to Mr Macleod, orecchiette lovers 'pay attention to detail'. He further explained: 'They like the finer things in life and are observant individuals. They are a bit of a perfectionist and like things to be just so. They have firm views and like to protect their space and don't like things amiss.' Garganelli This distinctive egg-based pasta originates from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and, while somewhat resembles penne, is unique as it is made from fresh egg pasta dough, rolled around a small stick, and pressed over a ridged board. As such, it seems somewhat unsurprising that lovers of this pasta shape are typically more individual and 'adventurous'. Mr Macleod noted: 'They like doing things their own way without needing attention. They are confident and don't seek validation from others.' Ravioli This delicious traditional stuffed pasta comes with a variety of fillings - ranging from ricotta cheese to spinach, meat and numerous vegetables. Renowned for their speedy cooking time, they are often a favourite for those looking for a pasta-based dish. According to Mr Macleod, those who typically opt for raviloli 'have a deeper side to them'. 'They might seem straightforward or boring to some, but there are many layers here going on underneath. They are homebodies who appreciate the simple things in life and cherish what's close to them.' Rigatoni This large hollow-shaped pasta holds roots in Rome and Sicily and has a wide structure ideal for heavy or thick sauces. For those who love this pasta type, there are signs that you enjoy experimenting and are 'confident' in yourselves, according to Mr Macleod. However, those that favour rigatoni are 'still seen as quite practical'. He added: 'They just like to push the boat out every now and again, just a little and not too much.' Lasagne A classic Italian baked dish consisting of stacked layers of flat pasta, sauce (ragu and/or bechamel), cheese, and various fillings, lasagne is designed for 'ultimate home bodies who love home comfort meals'. According to Mr Macleod, those who tend to opt for a hearty lasagne as their dinner have 'had the same friendship group for years and live life in their own bubble'. 'A bit adverse to change and they love what feels safe and familiar to them. These people have strong roots and values and stick with what the know and love,' he added. Farfalle Fondly known as 'butterfly' or 'bow' pasta, farfalle is a 16th-century, Northern Italian pasta characterised by its pinched, ruffled shape that is perfect for creamy sauces. With a slightly chewy centre, it was often created by housewives using leftover pasta dough. If this is your go-to pasta shape, you are likely 'young at heart' and seen by others as 'playful and positive', according to Mr Macleod. He further explained, 'They bring a bit of joy to situations and people are naturally drawn to them. Their mind always looks for the positive in things, and people love to gather around them.' Cavatelli This fun-shaped pasta is made from semolina or other flour dough and frequently cooked with garlic and broccoli or rapini, or even with just a simple tomato sauce. If this is the pasta shape for you, Mr Macleod estimates you are 'creative and artistic with a flair for making things'. He noted: 'They are happiest when they are in creation mode from knitting, cooking or art construction. They are genuine people and humble, creative thinking and problem solvers.' Gnocchi These delicious Italian dumplings are typically made from potato, flour, egg and salt and come with a soft, chewy texture. Typically, they are paired with a variety of sauces such as sage butter, pesto or tomato ragu. If your eyes light up when you see gnocchi on a restaurant menu, you are likely 'comfort-driven', according to Mr Macleod. He explained: 'They like feeling relaxed, safe, and looked after. I think they think they are pushing the boundaries with gnocchi. They think they're being a bit adventurous with but deep down it's quite familiar. 'A trip to their favourite restaurant is a big night out, they are set in their ways because it's right.' Sagne A traditional rustic pasta made with durum wheat flour and water, this pasta variety is favoured by vegans and dairy-free eaters. For those who typically opt for this pasta, Mr Macleod suggests they are 'open-minded and tend to be curious'. He added: 'They are willing to try things others might not. in their mind, they are comfortable with change and embrace things as they come along. They love the thrill of the chase.' Fettuccine Translating to 'little ribbons' in Italian, this popular egg-based pasta originates in Roman and Tuscan cuisine and offers a sturdy texture that is suitable for rich creamy sauces or hearty ragus. According to Mr Macleod, if this delicious pasta delights your taste buds, you typically opt for 'balance and control' in your personal life. 'They prefer calm over chaos and like things just so. Their mind is constantly looking for steadiness and order in the world. Not fans of change or new ideas,' he noted. Bucatini Popular in Rome and strongly reminiscent of spaghetti, this chewy durum wheat pasta often comes with thick, hearty sauces and holds a hole running through its centre. If this is the pasta for you, Mr Macleod believes that there may be more to you than what initially meets the eye. 'You may appear like the average person on the outside, but deep down you will unearth a deep and sensitive person,' he added. 'They are over-thinkers. There is real depth and sensitivity underneath, once people take the time to get to know you.' A landlord is furious after his tenant racked up 10,000 ($A19,100) in unpaid rent over 14 months while essentially living as a 'squatter'. The fed-up property owner sent a blunt text message to his tenant Jason, saying he couldn't put up with him living rent-free any longer. The conversation turned ugly when the renter refused to move out, forcing the landlord into a potentially months-long court battle before eviction. 'Jason, I'm done. You owe over ten grand in rent. I can't keep carrying this,' the landlord said. The renter said he was 'still looking for somewhere' to move but was struggling because the market wasn't 'easy out there right now'. However, the landlord fired back saying it's the same excuse he's been hearing for months. 'I've been here five years. This place is home,' Jason replied. The property owner pointed out he had paid rent for three years before he stopped making further payments over the next 14 months. A landlord is shaking with fury after a tenant racked up 10,000 ($A19,100) in unpaid rent over 14 months while living as a squatter 'The last fourteen months. Nothing,' he said furiously. The renter claimed he stopped paying because he didn't agree with the rent increase, which was 50 ($A100). The tenant said he stopped paying out of 'principle'. 'It wasn't about the amount,' Jason said. Refusing to back down, the landlord responded: 'The principal doesn't pay my mortgage.' Jason replied: 'You're the landlord. That's part of the job.' The owner clapped back, saying 'No. Paying rent is your part of the deal.' However, the renter said he was refusing to move out until he found somewhere that suits him. The landlord - who had appeared lenient with the tenant for the past 14 months- said he had tried to find a solution, but Jason was being inconsiderate, ignoring every payment plan he offered. 'Because none of them worked for me,' Jason claimed. The owner said he had been financially strained, covering the mortgage, insurance and bills from his own salary, while Jason lived rent-free. The tenant claimed it wasn't his fault because the 'system is broken'. 'The system didn't stop you paying rent,' the landlord fired back. 'If you want me out, take it to court,' Jason suggested. 'See you in court' The owner said he had already applied to the court to evict the renter for breaching the tenancy agreement. Jason pointed out that court hearings would take months. 'So your plan is to stay here rent free until a judge forces you out?' the landlord asked. 'I'm staying until I'm ready to move,' the squatter declared. The heated exchange ended with the landlord saying: 'Fine. Then I'll see you in court.' The renter said he was refusing to move out until he found somewhere that suits him - leaving the landlord with no choice but to take him to court Jason said he was refusing to leave until he was 'ready,' leaving the landlord facing a potentially months-long court battle before eviction Join the discussion Should landlords bear the costs when tenants refuse to pay or does the system need urgent change? In the UK, if a tenant misses rent payments or is late paying rent, they're in rent arrears, which can lead to potential eviction. Landlords need to prove to the court that their tenant has fallen behind in rent. The court can decide not to approve the eviction, but set conditions you have to meet to stay in your home. For example: paying your landlord the rent you owe by a certain date not falling into rent arrears again. Meanwhile, for NSW tenants who fall more than 14 days behind with the rent, the landlord or agent can serve them with a non-payment termination notice, giving them 14 days to leave the property. The texts were re-shared by UK property strategist Jake Rooke who was in disbelief when he read out the conversation between the landlord and renter. Tenants from hell The dilemma struck a chord with thousands of landlords, with many saying they are still picking up the pieces after dealing with tenants from hell. 'Feel for you, just been through a similar experience, luckily, my tenant left on the day of the eviction notice expiration but left so much filth and neglect it will take me months to rectify. It's left me reconsidering whether I should actually sell the property,' one landlord revealed. 'Stuff like this happens too often. It's why my entire retirement plan of renting out my home has changed. Too many renters think it's the landlords RESPONSIBILITY to allow tenants to stay for FREE. It's mental,' another shared. 'Too many tenants like that unfortunately,' one said. 'These freeloaders are scum and don't realise how much strain they put on the personal lives of landlords. The judicial system to deal with these people is an absolute joke,' another added. Denmark's royal family is stepping directly into a new era of national service this year as a direct response to the rising 'threat of war'. It has been revealed that Princess Isabella of Denmark is poised to trade textbooks for tactical training as she prepares to join the army later this year. The 18-year-old eldest daughter of Queen Mary and King Frederik X will begin her military service in August, shortly after completing high school. The move places her among the first cohort of young Danish women called up under the country's newly expanded conscription laws. In a statement shared by the Danish Royal House, it was confirmed that the teenager will undertake her training at the Guard Hussar Regiment in Slagelse, following in the footsteps of her older brother, Crown Prince Christian. He began his own service shortly after turning 18, enrolling in 2024 at the Guard Hussar Regiment in Slagelse. Now 20, the future king has already completed key stages of his training, with the royal household previously sharing glimpses of him in uniform during exercises and barracks life - a modern rite of passage that reflects Denmark's long-standing expectation that members of the monarchy serve alongside the public. The milestone of Isabella joining marks a significant cultural shift for Denmark, where compulsory military service has historically applied only to men. It has been revealed that Princess Isabella of Denmark, 18, (pictured) is poised for tactical training as she prepares to join the army in August this year In a statement shared by the Danish Royal House, it was confirmed that Isabella (centre) will undertake her training at the Guard Hussar Regiment in Slagelse, following in the footsteps of her older brother, Crown Prince Christian, 20, (right) The milestone of Isabella joining marks a significant cultural shift for Denmark, where compulsory military service has historically applied only to men Due to growing global instability - including rising tensions with Russia and geopolitical strain involving the United States - the country has fast-tracked reforms to bolster its defence forces. As of July 2025, all 18-year-old women have been required to register for potential military service, with the duration extended from four months to 11 months in a bid to strengthen combat readiness. Princess Isabella is expected to be among the first wave of young women to undertake the full-length program, which is a development that underscores both the urgency of the moment and the monarchy's alignment with national priorities. While it remains unclear whether the royal volunteered or was selected via the lottery system, early reports indicate that the initial intake of the expanded program has been largely made up of volunteers eager to serve. The shift comes as Denmark finds itself navigating what experts have described as a 'precarious' global position, facing pressure from both traditional adversaries and unexpected allies. As reported by ABC's Foreign Correspondent, concerns over Russian aggression, combined with shock threats from former US President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, have fuelled a renewed sense of urgency across the nation. 'We need to get as many people as we can [in the military],' one young recruit said, highlighting the growing sentiment among Denmark's youth. 'We just have to be ready for whatever they deem we need to be ready for.' As of July 2025, all 18-year-old women have been required to register for potential military service, with the duration extended from four months to 11 months in a bid to strengthen combat readiness. Pictured: Queen Mary of Denmark, 54, and King Frederik X, 57, with daughter Isabella The shift comes as Denmark finds itself navigating what experts have described as a 'precarious' global position, facing pressure from both traditional adversaries and unexpected allies. Pictured: Crown Prince Christian and his mother Queen Mary Join the discussion Should royal families set an example by serving in the military during times of global tension? For many, the inclusion of women is seen not as symbolic, but essential. 'We're nothing special because we're women. When we put our uniform on, we are all soldiers,' another recruit added, reinforcing the country's push for equality within its armed forces. Back home, Princess Isabella's decision, or duty, is likely to draw global attention, not least because of her unique position as the daughter of Queen Mary, the Australian-born royal who recently returned to her homeland for a high-profile tour alongside King Frederik. The couple's six-day visit in March saw them welcomed at Canberra's Government House and travel across the country, with a poignant stop at Uluru and a return to Tasmania, where Mary grew up. Princess Isabella is expected to be among the first wave of young women to undertake the full-length program, which is a development that underscores both the urgency of the moment and the monarchy's alignment with national priorities The new conscription model in Denmark is expected to dramatically increase the number of young people undertaking service each year, with projections suggesting up to 6,500 recruits annually by 2033 Now, just weeks later, attention has turned to their daughter, and her imminent transition from royal teenager to military trainee. The new conscription model is expected to dramatically increase the number of young people undertaking service each year, with projections suggesting up to 6,500 recruits annually by 2033. And while the idea of a princess entering military life may once have seemed extraordinary, in modern Denmark, it's fast becoming the new normal. 'The whole world is such an unstable place at the moment we have to prepare ourselves for the future,' one recruit added. For Princess Isabella, that future is now just months away. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking the glossy black and white snaps of a woman in a sleek blazer, with quotes about 'creating something elevated' were of Meghan Markle, borrowing more Silicon Valley style speak to promote her honey and jam. But look closer and you'd realise that this promo is far from Montecito shores. Rather, it's all for a new brand set up by Kate's former right-hand woman - who worked with the royals for over 15 years. The Princess of Wales's former PA certainly appears to have taken a leaf out of the Duchess of Sussex's playbook, launching an Instagram to promote her new style consultancy with cream backgrounds and musings on 'focusing on the details'. Even Natasha's logo - a self-stylised cypher of her initials, NA - have an 'As Ever' flair to them, channelling the same aesthetic as Meghan's palm tree emblem. Both also tout stripped back, monochrome social media feeds, featuring plenty of trendy millennial beige and 'candid' photography. This week, Natasha - whose new business launches tomorrow - shared a black and white snap of herself in a modern office, with a collaged mood board in the background. 'It begins with understanding,' she wrote. 'Is refined through detail and brought together to create something elevated.' The musings are not dissimilar to Meghan's regular posts about wanting to 'elevate the everyday into the exceptional' through her products. 'I always knew that I wanted to turn these ideas into something real, and to make beautiful items that spark connection and celebrate quiet, meaningful moments,' she has said of As Ever - inviting customers to 'mimic the magic of Montecito in a way you can recreate at home'. In February last year, the duchess had even shared a very similar looking mood board, which served as the inspiration for As Ever. Much like Natasha's, which features product snaps as well as aspirational photos of champagne glasses and fashion runways, Meghan's included pictures of food, as well as inspirational quotes. It wouldn't be too far-fetched for Natasha to have been inspired by Meghan; as last year, she unfollowed several Instagram accounts after royal fans noticed she was following some of the duchess's inner circle. The Princess of Wales's former PA certainly appears to have taken a leaf out of the Duchess of Sussex's playbook, launching an Instagram to promote her new stylist services with cream backgrounds and musings on 'focusing on the details'. Natasha pictured in 2024 It wouldn't be too far-fetched for Natasha to have been inspired by Meghan; last year, she unfollowed several Instagram accounts after royal fans noticed she was following some of the duchess's inner circle. Meghan in September Natasha made her Instagram public after quitting her job at Kensington Palace last summer, after more than a decade of working for The Firm. She had started off in a role working for Prince Harry and Prince William before becoming Kate's right-hand woman. After making her Instagram public, sleuths found that Natasha was following both Meghan's Instagram account and As Ever, the former royal's new lifestyle brand. Natasha was also following Meghan's make-up artist Daniel Martin, her close friends Abigail Spencer, Delfina Blaquier and Heather Dorak as well as various blogs and fan accounts dedicated to the Duchess of Sussex's fashion. She has since unfollowed dozens of accounts but still follows Sarah Rafferty, Meghan's co-star on Suits and Emma Grede - a guest on Meghan's podcast. It is understood the Prince and Princess of Wales have wished Natasha the very best for a new chapter after their years-long association. Natasha began working for the Royal Family in 2010 when she was appointed a personal assistant to both Prince William and Prince Harry. After William's wedding to Kate, Natasha also began reporting to the then-Duchess of Cambridge before becoming the future Queen's most trusted aide. Over the years, she became an integral part of the private household - with Kate seemingly rewarding her loyalty with a promotion last June. The Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Natasha stepped into the role of senior private executive assistant to William and Kate, following reports she personally collected The Princess of Wales from the London Clinic after her abdominal operation earlier this year. After that, the mother of two was brought into the innermost circle of trusted friends and family members supporting Kate through her cancer journey. The princess announced she is in remission from an undisclosed form of cancer last September. This week, Natasha - whose new business launches tomorrow - shared a black and white snap of herself in a modern office, with a collaged mood board in the background In February last year, the Duchess had even shared a very similar looking mood board, which served as the inspiration for As Ever Even Natasha's logo (left) - a self-stylised cypher of her initials, NA - have an 'As Ever' flair to them, chanelling the same aesthetic as Meghan's palm tree emblem (right) Mother-of-two Natasha - who is married to royal photographer Chris Jackson - has been by Kate's side for some of her biggest life events of the past decade, from royal births and her cancer treatment to overseas tours. Despite her high-profile job, Natasha has managed to stay mostly out of the spotlight - but still appears to be unwavering in her support of the princess. Natasha has been such a trusted member of staff that she was one of a select few who visited the Princess of Wales after she gave birth to her three children at the Lindo Wing in London. In July 2013, the stylist was seen entering the hospital to give Kate the blue polka dot Jenny Peckham dress they had chosen for the public appearance after the birth of Prince George, now 11. A source told The Telegraph: 'She was seen arriving at the Lindo Wing following the birth of Prince George with a hanger bag, presumably containing the blue and white polka dot Jenny Packham dress which Kate then wore to give the world its first glimpse of the future King a few hours later.' What's more, the two women both welcomed sons in 2018 - with Kate giving birth to Prince Louis in May and Natasha announcing the arrival of Theo in December. In 2014, she was promoted to the position of Kate's personal stylist and was said to be the mastermind behind the duchess's wardrobe for the Cambridges' successful tour of Australia. According to Grazia, Natasha was brought in to make Kate's wardrobe look more 'regal' as per the late Queen's request. A source told the fashion magazine: 'Natashas main role is as a PA, but over the last few months she has assisted Kate as a style adviser. 'Natasha and Kate get on very well. She has always supported and advised Kate - and the Duchess loves Natashas style, so it seemed like an obvious appointment. Natasha has been helping Kate pick outfits for the [New Zealand and Australia] tour. At the time, it was reported that Natasha often shopped online for Kate's wardrobe - particularly from ASOS and Topshop. Following the success of the Australia tour, it has been reported that Natasha started encouraging Kate to experiment more with her wardrobe. In 2016, Natasha also joined Kate on her tour of Canada - and was responsible for some of her most glamorous looks from the trip, including a bright red Preen cocktail gown. In 2019, the mother-of-three was highly praised for her style during her historic royal tour to Pakistan along with her husband Prince William, but her 'secret weapon' stylist Natasha Archer had a large part to play. It was Natasha who introduced Kate to much-loved Pakistani designer Maheen Khan after finding her designs at O'Nitaa, in London's Chelsea Green, and getting in touch with the 74-year-old to create some custom-made pieces for the royal. In 2017, Natasha married Chris Jackson - who is the royal photographer for Getty. As well as curating Kate's wardrobe and helping with her diary, it was reported that Natasha, a Jenny Packham devotee, was ordered to spruce up Prince Williams estate agent style. For the tour of Canada, the then 29-year-old stylist known to friends as Tash added linen jackets, and sweaters from J Crew, Jaeger and Reiss, her favourite high street label. Natasha reportedly assured the Prince, then 34, that she was merely helping him to edit and freshen his wardrobe. In 2018, Natasha was invited to become a member of the Royal Victorian Order in recognition of her services to the Royal Family. Emma Manners is enormously excited: her eldest daughter Violet is pregnant with her first child, and the Duchess of Rutland is going to be a grandmother for the first time. It is a precious gift for the chatelaine of Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, who once feared she would not live long enough to see her daughter tie the knot with her husband, the Scottish Viscount William Lindesay-Bethune, let alone have children. On July 25, 2024, the day after hosting a lavish celebration for her youngest son Hugos 21st birthday, Emma (then aged 60) was given a diagnosis of breast cancer. There then followed a year of almost constant bad news, with one arduous procedure following another and a series of surgeries that tested even this famously stoical grande dame. Now, having undergone both a mastectomy and hysterectomy, the Duchess can at last look forward to a happier, if noisier, future with a new baby in the family. Speaking from Belvoir Castle, which she runs with her partner Phil Burtt the castles former estates manager and her estranged husband David, 11th Duke of Rutland, she says: I feel like its the end of one chapter in my life and the beginning of a new one. I cant wait to set up a nursery for the next generation of the family. Its a wonderful and special time for us all.' Certainly, Emma, now 62, who has five children Violet, 32, Alice, 30, Eliza, 28, Charles, 26, and Hugo, 22 is in a more upbeat mood since we last spoke in the midst of her treatment. Emma Manners, the Duchess of Rutland, is famously stoical but even she was tested by a year of frequent bad news and arduous surgeries. (Pictured at home in Belvoir Castle) It is now 18 months since Emma sat opposite consultant oncologist Monika Kaushik, in the Spire Hospital in Nottingham, to be given the news she had breast cancer. A month or so earlier, Id discovered a lump in my left breast, she says. Id thought nothing much of it. Maybe it was a pimple, cyst or similar. I remember waking up and feeling a niggling sensation and thinking: "What is that?" But it didnt hurt. When I mentioned it to my partner Phil, he said: Im sure its nothing to worry about. So, I put it out of my mind until after Hugos birthday party. Id foolishly missed my last mammogram so booked another at the Spire Hospital. Phil kindly offered to join me, and I was happy for him to come along. But I wasnt overly concerned. It was just a routine appointment. Until I heard the words: I think theres something thats not right here. You have a shadow on your left breast. We were immediately ushered in to see the consultant. As we sat opposite her desk, she asked how Id like to be addressed. Oh Emma, I blurted out. Well, Emma, she said. I have to tell you that you have breast cancer. You will need to do a biopsy we have found three areas. Known as the accidental duchess because she was born the daughter of a Welsh farmer and had no idea David Manners was heir to a dukedom when they met Emma is now CEO of the busy commercial and events management business that is Belvoir. She is famously down to earth and ferociously well-organised yet here was a problem she could not immediately solve. At that moment, everything stopped, as it must do for so many people diagnosed with any life-threatening illness, she says. I partly felt I was acting in slow motion. But, at the same time, my mind was on fire. The thoughts came thick and fast: Can we fix this? What can I do right now? Who can I chat to?" Then came the deeper considerations. Id committed myself to bringing up my children until my youngest was 21, and I had achieved that goal literally the day before. A mothers greatest fear is losing her life when her children are in the process of growing up. So, I couldnt have asked for more life didnt owe me a penny. Yet I still thought: Im only 60. Ive got a bit of living left to do. I want to see my children get married and have their own children. After her diagnosis, Emma threw herself into an endless treadmill of hospital appointments. She talks openly about intimate medical detail in order to show the realities of treatment for a cancer that will affect one in seven UK women. First of all, for example, before any other drugs or surgery could start, she had to have her HRT implant and coil removed. The former is a slow-release oestrogen pellet, usually placed beneath the skin of the stomach or buttock, and the latter releases progesterone to protect the lining of the womb. In fact, Emma blames the combined form of HRT for her cancer a belief reinforced by her long-time friend, the GP Dr Sarah Myhill, whose treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME, it should be said, have proved controversial in the past. (Few nowadays dispute a link between the combined form of HRT and breast cancer, though most doctors say the risk is low, and even lower when taking bio-identical as opposed to synthetic forms of HRT). Emma partly blames the combined form of HRT for her breast cancer, although most doctors say the risk is low. (Pictured in hospital) I was having an awful time with the menopause, she explains. I had a terrible sleep pattern and dreadful night sweats. My gynaecologist discussed the option of gel or implants. The implant is better for me, otherwise Ill forget to take it, I said. Now I wish I had never been put on it. Not only did I get breast cancer, but from the moment they removed [the coil], the bleeding wouldnt stop, which left me juggling cancer while also needing a hysterectomy. Once off the HRT, Emma had a biopsy a fine needle was injected into her breast without an anaesthetic to take a tissue sample to find out whether the two other nodules were cancerous and an MRI scan. The biopsy was the most painful of all my procedures, she says. I bled for five days. At this stage, she still hadnt told her children, and in fact was under-playing the situation to protect them. Vi had just got engaged to William, and we had invited his family down from Scotland for the weekend to meet my clan. It was a magical weekend, and I didnt want my news to overshadow the festivities. Id mentioned the mammogram to my youngest daughter, Eliza, who was studying in New York. When she called to ask how it went, I told her a white lie because I didnt want to worry her unnecessarily. It was a difficult decision, but I think its important to try to protect your children, especially when theyre on the other side of the world. After getting the results of the biopsy and scan, Monika decided that Emma would need a mastectomy: although the other two lumps were benign, the cancerous tumour was 2.5cm and fast-growing. Emmas reaction was typically matter-of-fact. For some reason, I had no fear, she says. I said Lets get on with it. Actually, I remember clearly asking Monika: Can you fit me in next week and get the replacement done the following week? How naive I was! The operation took place on September 3, 2024, a day after her 61st birthday. I finally told the family, individually, just before, she says. Eliza was understandably upset that I had kept the truth from her, so I said: OK, thats it. Ill set up a WhatsApp family group, and everybody will find out everything at the same time. Emma was diagnosed with cancer after her son Hugos 21st birthday party, but under-played the situation to her family, saying, 'I think its important to try to protect your children' Cancer of course cares nothing for titles, money or privilege, and now the family was facing what so many others do: the serious illness of the woman who held it all together. The mastectomy would not include an immediate reconstruction that would happen later, using flesh from her abdomen. And at first all went well. I was in theatre for hours and hours. As I came to after the operation, I remained in a meditative state for nearly five hours. Nurses came and went, but I just continued in a calm trance. Of course, it may have been the drugs but, honestly, it felt like the start of a new beginning. In mid-September, she was given the news she was praying for and slips into a characteristically mischievous anecdote... It hasnt gone into your lymph nodes, Monika told me. Good, I replied. You will need radiotherapy, she said. Good, I think. You may need chemo. They need to do more tests. Is that good? I asked. Yes, she said. When can I have the reconstructive surgery? Not for a year. Damn. No new boobs and tummy tuck for Vis wedding. We all collapsed in uncontrollable laughter. But Emma was still not out of the woods. The following day, she had a biopsy of the womb to investigate the continued bleeding and discovered she needed a hysterectomy to stop it. The next day was the killer, she recalls. When I got home, the only thing left was to sob. I never had a problem with breeding. The problem was stopping breeding. With a series of iron infusions under her belt, Emma went into the Spire Hospital in January last year to have her hysterectomy. The two-hour operation was done by keyhole surgery. I felt very emotional afterwards, she admits. I didnt really know who I was any more. I dont feel that now. You have to move on. Having had five children, I knew my womb had well and truly completed its job. But I had this longing to save it. I had no idea where this came from until I was introduced to a fascinating spiritual teacher called Collette Corcoran, who explained that the loss of a womb can feel profoundly devastating as it holds the deeper feminine intelligence and the intuition of a woman. Losing it touches a womans emotional, symbolic and ancestral body knowledge and power. Despite her endless hospital visits, Emma decided to undergo another, rather less vital procedure this time, veneers on her teeth. Crazily, in retrospect, she did it the day before Violets wedding, which took place at Belvoir Castle last June. When people mentioned that I was the mother of the bride, it sent me into a wet sweat, she explains. So, I had everything pumped and pummelled before the wedding. I had Botox for the first time in my life, and microneedling to make my skin more youthful. I then thought: Im going to get some decent teeth. God knows why. The children say its so ridiculous, and I couldnt speak properly on the wedding day itself. Emma went through more procedures the day before her daughter Violet's wedding, including veneers and microneedling. (Pictured: The newlyweds, Violet and William, in June last year) Belvoir Castle is at a wonderful stage, says Emma, who has been there for 25 years and has plans to open a wellness centre. But the duchess admits, 'I need to stop pushing myself' She then made another discovery one that does not necessarily bear much scientific scrutiny but illustrates her inimitable spirit. Ive since found out that when you die, the veneers fall off, and you have these horrible black fangs. So Ive decided I want to be cremated now. That will solve that problem. She did not need chemotherapy, but had ten days of radiotherapy. Having been told she would need to be on the medication Letrozole for the next five years a drug used in post-menopausal women to stop hormone-sensitive breast cancer returning finally, it was time for her reconstruction operation. She went into Londons Harley Street Clinic on July 15 last year and spent a week in recovery before she was allowed to go home. The ten-hour operation was conducted by consultant plastic surgeon Stuart James, who also operated on Sarah Ferguson, rebuilding Emmas breast with flesh from her stomach. He was a wonderful red-headed Welshman, she says. He listened to heavy metal music when he was doing my surgery. As I came out, he said: I think its a brilliant job, and I said: Ive no idea. I wont be looking at it for a long time." I felt so dreadful coming out of that operation. I really felt my body had been pushed from pillar to post. I guess I was looking a bit wiped out. Id gone in looking really chirpy, but I came out of it thinking: I have such respect for any woman on this planet who has cosmetic surgery because they want a tummy tuck or because they want new boobs because its so painful. With it all in the past, she can at last reflect on what its taught her about her own mortality. Im like The Bionic Woman. Ive had my womb removed, my ovaries removed, a breast implant and tummy tuck. Im on this drug Letrozole for the next five years. Cancer has definitely changed my outlook. Ive got a wonderful team [at Belvoir Castle] and I need to stop pushing myself and micro-managing everyone. She has been at the castle for 25 years and in that time seen its commercial arm expand from weddings to ranges of furniture, shooting parties to mineral waters and country wear with plans afoot for a wellness centre. Belvoir is at this wonderful stage, she says, before adding surprisingly: In some ways, Ive held it back. I have to get the right team to help it really find its wings and fly. I dont think theres any limit because weve got a worldwide brand. We are very closely involved with the community and want to build on that. Youve only got to look at France or Russia to see what happens if aristocracy loses touch with the community. Its a characteristically dry comment and yet clearly pragmatic too. For now, she is looking forward only to changing nappies, though others are not. The person who is really nervous about it of course is Phil, who has done his very best to avoid changing nappies for his own grandchildren he certainly didnt do his own children, she laughs. And to be absolutely clear, the Duke didnt take to it either! Its all change at Belvoir then perhaps at the highest levels of management as well as in the nursery. But whatever happens, you can guarantee the accidental duchess will be at the heart of it. An 'entitled' influencer has come under fierce fire after she revealed that she was banned from flying because she unleashed a furious tirade against a flight agent. Content creator Joleen Weiss, from Boston, took to TikTok last week to share details of an 'extremely disappointing and disheartening' incident that she was involved in during her recent trip to Portugal. Weiss broke down in tears as she explained that she had been denied boarding on her Ryanair flight after she lashed out at one of the airline employees. She claimed that the agent had been 'rude' and 'unprofessional' to her while demanding that she delete a video she had filmed of herself at the gate. Weiss admitted that she called the worker a 'b***h' in response, and got emotional as she revealed that she was then told she wouldn't be allowed on the flight because of her expletive rant. The content creator called the ordeal 'really horrifying and plain discrimination' as she sobbed in the airport - but viewers were not so convinced. The video went viral, gaining more than two million views, and it sparked immense fury for the social media star as hordes of viewers slammed her for 'verbally abusing' the airline employee. Weiss's video began with her sobbing to the camera as she declared: 'F**k Ryanair, I'm never flying with them again. Rudest people ever.' Content creator Joleen Weiss, from Boston, took to TikTok last week to share an 'extremely disappointing and disheartening' incident that she was involved in while traveling Weiss broke down in tears as she explained that she had been denied boarding on her Ryanair flight following a verbal altercation with one of the airline employees (stock image) It then cut to a clip of her telling her followers that she had 'calmed down a bit' and was now able to 'gather her thoughts a little more properly.' 'That was the least professional experience I've ever [had]. If you watch my videos you know I always show up as the happiest and kindest human being to everyone always,' she said. 'The fact that I was treated like this is really, really horrifying and plain discrimination. No one here gave a f**k, it's really sad.' Weiss went on to explain that she was running late and got to the airport past the cutoff to check her bag, so she took the bag with her through security and rushed to the gate. In true influencer style, the star admitted that she was documenting her travels, so when she got to the gate and realized she had made it in time, she filmed a quick clip of herself. But when the gate agent saw her recording, Weiss alleged that the woman told her she had to delete the video. 'As soon as I get to the gate, this f**king lady, she sees me recording myself,' Weiss said. 'She sees I'm having a s**t a** day. She's like, "You're going to have to delete that video." I'm like, "I was just videoing myself, what do you mean?" The video went viral, gaining more than two million views, and it sparked immense fury for the social media star as hordes of viewers slammed her for 'verbally abusing' the airline employee 'She's like, "No you have to delete it right now or else I'm calling the police."' Weiss claimed that she deleted the video, but the woman went even further and told her she needed to go to her Recently Deleted album on her phone and remove it from there as well, which she said she did. Weiss alleged that she was then told she would have to pay a $75 fee to gate-check her suitcase despite already pre-paying to check it. 'I already paid for the bag at check-in. But I understand that's my fault, I was late and I was happy to pay the $75. Fine,' she continued. 'But [the gate agent is] giving me the most attitude possible. I didn't do anything. I walked up to the gate smiling, like, thank God I didn't miss the flight and she was immediately being a b***h to me. 'Like, I'm sorry you're f**king miserable, I would be too if I was you and I had that attitude in life.' Weiss said she paid the $75 fee and was about to board when she stopped and told the gate agent: 'You know, you're a b***h and it costs zero dollars to be nice to someone.' 'She goes, "That's it, you're not getting on the flight,"' Weiss revealed as she sobbed. 'They're not letting me get on my flight now after they made me pay a $75 extra bag charge.' In a follow-up clip, she added that she tried to get a refund for the bag fee after she wasn't allowed on the plane but that it had been denied, stating: 'It's crazy, genuinely crazy. That's why they're able to make money.' 'Posting this here because everyone at the Ryanair office was extremely rude and unprofessional so this was my final straw of getting robbed of at least $200,' she added in a text overlay. In the caption of the video, Weiss tagged Ryanair, writing: 'You have lost a genuine customer because I have never ever been treated like I was by [the gate agent] at your Porto location, ever in my life. 'It's very clear how you treat your customers, and I would rather pay an extra $300 for a ticket than be treated like this and just plain out scammed. 'I am the most positive and happy person, and to be treated and harassed like this is extremely disappointing and disheartening.' She added to her viewers: 'I would think twice before flying them.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Ryanair for comment. She claimed that the gate agent had been 'rude' and 'unprofessional' to her and admitted that she called the worker a 'b***h' in response But viewers were quick to side with Ryanair in the comment section. 'Verbal abuse is not OK. You are wrong,' wrote one outraged TikTok user. 'You managed to make me side with Ryanair girl,' another penned. 'So we are on team Ryanair?' someone else asked, and the comment got nearly 15,000 likes. '100 percent. [Weiss was] abusive to staff, late and [had an] oversized bag,' agreed a different viewer. 'You cannot be serious thinking you were in the right here,' read a fifth comment. A sixth said: 'The "happiest and kindest human being" yet you're proceeding to tell us how you insulted a girl trying to do her job. 'Ryanair customer service isn't always great but I'm not sure why you felt insulting her was going to work in your favor? 'Her attitude may have been uncalled for but so was yours. I can imagine her and other staff are just fed up, not comfortable with situations such as cameras in their faces and other passengers, as well as people rushing to the gate despite times existing for a reason. I'd just learn from this experience and move on.' AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Dodge is celebrating Americas 250th anniversary this summer with the introduction of the 2026 Dodge Durango America250 (A250) edition, infusing Dodges unmistakable American muscle with special-edition content that celebrates power, heritage and patriotic grit. Dodge is celebrating America's 250th anniversary with the new 2026 Durango GT America250 (A250) edition, debuting today at the 2026 New York International Auto Show media preview Dodge Durango GT America250 edition is the first production vehicle to be shown to the press and public at an auto show as part of Stellantis' iconic U.S. brands' official partnership with America250 Featuring American-themed interior and exterior upgrades, the anniversary edition will be available on three Durango GT trim levels: GT Plus, GT HEMI Plus and GT HEMI Premium Orders are scheduled to open in early April at a starting U.S. MSRP of $49,590 for the 2026 Dodge Durango GT Plus AWD A250 edition (all prices exclude tax, title and fees) Dodge is celebrating America's 250th anniversary this summer with the introduction of the 2026 Dodge Durango America250 (A250) edition, infusing Dodge's unmistakable American muscle with special-edition content that celebrates power, heritage and patriotic grit. Today in New York City, Dodge took the wraps off the new 2026 Dodge Durango GT A250 edition at the 2026 New York International Auto Show media preview. This is the first production vehicle to be shown to the press and public at an auto show as part of Stellantis' iconic U.S. brands' official partnership with America250, the nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to lead the commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. For the first time on Durango GT, the A250 edition introduces premium interior touches typically reserved for higher-performance trims, including Black Laguna leather seats with exclusive blue perforation, a flag embossment on the seats, red-and-white accent stitching, a tricolorstitched steering wheel, Demonic Red seat belts and forged carbon-fiber appliques. Bold new exterior elements, such as star-pattern dual stripes with blue tracer accents, America250 fender decals and badging and 20-inch Black Noise wheels, underscore the lineup's assertive stance. "This Dodge Durango A250 is a celebration of American performance, American attitude and fittingly, America's 250th birthday," said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. "Dodge has always stood for American muscle: speed, strength and the unapologetic pursuit of automotive excitement. Today, we celebrate that legacy and the road ahead." The Durango GT A250 edition will be available on a choice of three trim levels: Durango GT Plus AWD powered by the proven Pentastar V-6 engine with 295 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque Durango GT HEMI Plus AWD brings the 5.7-liter, 360-horsepower V-8 HEMI engine to the GT model Durango GT HEMI Premium AWD adds top-spec content and convenience features Orders are scheduled to open in early April for the Durango GT A250 edition. The 2026 Dodge Durango GT Plus AWD A250 edition is available at a starting U.S. MSRP of $49,590. The Durango GT HEMI Plus AWD A250 edition is available at an MSRP of $51,270, with the Durango GT HEMI Premium AWD A250 edition available at $54,270 (all prices exclude tax, title and fees). The Dodge Durango is built in the heart of America's Motor City at the Stellantis Detroit Assembly Complex - Jefferson (DACJ) in Detroit. Dodge Durango GT America250 Edition Built proudly in Detroit, Durango GT A250 models deliver authentic American performance with choice of either 360-horsepower HEMI V-8 or V-6 engine power Durango GT A250 models introduce the first premium-performance interior experience to the Durango GT, with Black Laguna leather seats embellished with A250-only blue accent perforation that erupts through the seat inserts Durango GT A250-exclusive touches include an American flag embossment on the Laguna leather front seats, red-and-white interior dual stitching and red-white-and-blue steering wheel stitching Unique U.S.-themed graphics and exterior cues exclusive to Durango GT A250 models include American flag A250 decal and badging, plus dual stripes featuring a star pattern outlined in blue tracer accents; stripes exclusively available on models painted in White Knuckle exterior color Durango GT A250 edition exterior colors echo America250 theme with Red Oxide, White Knuckle and dark blue Night Moves, while also including Destroyer Gray and Diamond Black Durango GT A250 models feature a custom leather key tag embossed with America250 and Dodge logos on one side and an American flag printed-cloth graphic on the other Options include Tow N Go package for GT HEMI models delivering best-in-class 8,700 lbs. towing capability and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system for the GT Plus America250 America250's mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America's semiquincentennial. We aim to inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past, strengthen our love of country, and renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy through programs that educate, engage and unite us as a nation. America250 will foster shared experiences that spark imagination, showcase the rich tapestry of our American stories, inspire service in our communities, honor the enduring strength and celebrate the resilience of the United States of America. Dodge For 112 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Today, that legacy roars louder than ever in the next-generation lineup of Dodge, America's performance brand. The next-gen Dodge Charger multi-energy lineup features: the SIXPACK-powered standard-output (S.O.) 420-horsepower Dodge Charger R/T with standard all-wheel drive and the highest entry-level horsepower of any muscle car the 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack, powered by the 3.0L Twin Turbo SIXPACK high-output (H.O.) engine the most powerful Hurricane engine in production the world's quickest and most powerful muscle car in the all-electric 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Every Charger comes standard with all-wheel drive and offers two-door coupe or four-door sedan configurations because with performance comes choice. The Dodge lineup is also fueled by the fastest American gas-powered SUV ever, the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, powered by the legendary supercharged HEMI V-8 engine, now available in all 50 states. The new Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak breaks free from convention with the three-row SUV, unlocking more than 13 million potential customization combinations. The 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Durango GT HEMI AWD remains the most affordable AWD V-8 in the industry. The purchase of a SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack, Charger Daytona Scat Pack or Durango SRT Hellcat model includes one day of performance driving instruction at Radford Racing School, the official Dodge//SRT high-performance driving school. Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com. Follow Dodge//SRT and company news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Dodge brand: www.dodge.com Direct Connection: www.DCPerformance.com DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA SOURCE Stellantis Spring is springing, lambs skipping, flowers blooming yet millions of UK households are plunged into gloom today, thanks to Aprils Arm-and-a-leg-mageddon of spiralling bills. The yearly cost of basics, including council tax, broadband and water bills, is shooting up by more than 200 on average. And thats before we factor in the enormous leap in fuel and energy prices threatened by Americas war with Iran. I live in a remote, rural area where we cant get a smart meter installed and we are entirely reliant on the gas tank for heating. (You might think heating isnt necessary now its spring, but given the insane weather Britains been subjected to in March, who knows what hail and snow April might bring?) In short, our belts are now so tight we can barely breathe. Luckily, I am a veteran of bill-shaving and bargain-hunting. Twenty years ago, Id got into 30,000 of debt and was forced to sell my home, a five-bed Victorian semi in a lovely suburb of Manchester. As a self-employed writer, Id made the mistake of not saving enough to pay my tax bill and relied on credit cards to get by when times were tough. When HMRC suddenly called in the full debt, I had the choice of going bankrupt or selling up, and I chose the latter. But in order to pay off the credit cards and the giant overdraft Id accumulated, I took several other steps ones Ill be retreading as we head into Awful April. 1. Pay off debts How are we supposed to do that when we can barely afford to function? The secret is to pay one off entirely while simply servicing the others. Focus all your efforts on the smallest debt you have and if possible overpay until its gone, which will save you interest. Then move on to the second smallest, and so on. You can also consolidate your debts and pay them off with a loan, which means only one set of interest and no more threatening letters. The debt charity stepchange.org can help you organise your bills and ease the panic considerably. Focus all your efforts on the smallest debt you have and if possible overpay until its gone, which will save you interest. Then move on to the second smallest, and so on 2. Sell everything I have a habit of giving all my de-cluttered clothes and books to charity, but Im missing out on a potential fortune. Yes, it can be a fiddly process to sell on eBay or Vinted, but you can bundle items together and sell them as a full box of clothes, or crockery. You may earn a little less, but its a major time-saver. If you do have the time, its worth paying extra to boost your offerings, so more people will see them. Dont forget Facebook Marketplace and local selling groups for furniture and household items, and if you do have any collectible vintage albums, china or books, its worth researching online selling forums. Re-selling is also an option, though youll need to thoroughly research the items you buy from car boots and charity shops to price them accurately. 3. Embrace charity shops Now given a cool rebrand as thrifting, back when I was young, did you get dressed in a charity shop? was an insult. Not one I took to heart, however. Id always enjoyed a rummage, but I stopped buying new clothes altogether, and relied entirely on my local charity shops for my outfits. I still do, and have a wardrobe full of cashmere and designer shoes, thanks to my love of a bargain hunt. Charity shops are great for books, kids clothes, jewellery and crockery, and if youre willing to invest the time, you can find amazing womens clothes too. But be warned mens clothes are generally useless, as men hold on to their jeans and jumpers until theyre shredding into rags. 4. Swap supermarkets Loyalty cards are good, but nothing beats a super-cheap supermarket. I admit, I once turned my nose up at Farmfoods and Iceland but frozen food works out a great deal cheaper than fresh, even if you factor in the electricity needed to preserve it. I buy my tins, teabags, condiments and frozen fish and veg at Farmfoods now, and am also amazed by its stock of healthy nuts, seeds, tinned beans and pulses and even boxes of medjool dates. Its the middle-class shoppers secret. Other bargain stores such as B&M and Home Bargains sell reduced fresh and packaged food too, and the satisfaction of saving up to 30 per shop really does beat the joy of Waitrose. I buy my tins, teabags, condiments and frozen fish and veg at Farmfoods now, and am also amazed by its stock of healthy nuts, seeds, tinned beans and pulses, writes Flic Everett 5. Start a side hustle I used to read tarot cards at university. When I needed a bit of extra money to cover the bills, I set up a Facebook page offering online tarot readings and promoted it on my social media accounts. I had many enquiries and earned well over 1,000. The downside was, it involved long hours on top of my day job. If you need extra cash, however, think about the existing skills you have and whether you can leverage them to sell or teach online. Selling jewellery on Etsy, crafting, baking cakes for birthdays (though youll need Council approval of your baking premises) or DJ-ing at weekend parties can all bring in enough to pay the bills. 6. Cut out holidays and restaurants It sounds obvious, but I know plenty of middle-class families who would die on the hill of taking a sunny holiday every year. They may need to wise up, though, because travel costs are set to rise again and the average family will struggle to afford that all-inclusive break that was once so reasonable. Every couple of months, Id spend up to 20 on creating a destination and accompanying food at home. I made a Bedouin tent in the attic and we ate middle eastern food, writes Flic When I was paying my debts off, holidays were not an option for a while, and nor was eating out. So in order to have fun, I came up with Travels in our House. Every couple of months, Id spend up to 20 on creating a destination and accompanying food at home. I made a Bedouin tent in the attic and we ate Middle-Eastern food. Once I bought a roulette set for 1 and took us to Vegas in the living room (burgers and a tequila sunrise cocktail). We had the Orient Express in the hall, and 1950s Paris in the kitchen. It wasnt quite a fortnight on the Algarve, admittedly but it was a lot of fun, and there were no airport delays, either. The digital age has changed the way we look at ourselves quite literally. When I was growing up, no one really took photographs or videos, save perhaps at Christmas or special occasions. It was a faff: the equipment was expensive and fiddly, and the results far from guaranteed. Besides, genuinely good-looking people were few and far between. The rest of us well, who wanted endless reminders of the reality? People were far more accepting of their natural appearance. Not least because there wasn't an awful lot you could do about it. Plastic surgery was prohibitively expensive, there were no Botox, fillers, lasers or red-light therapy even hair tools were primitive. It was Pond's Cold Cream and Elnett and not a lot else. Then along came smartphones and Instagram culture, and everything changed. The world became selfie-obsessed. And the more we looked at ourselves, the more we found that we didn't like. But that was fine, because now there was a solution if not a fancy digital filter, then a real-life one. A tweakment here, a tweakment there, hair extensions, maybe some threads, the odd chemical peel. And not just for 'anti-ageing' purposes, either. Now you could alter your entire appearance, Kardashian-style. A perfectly average-looking person could, if they had the time, money and stomach for it, transform themselves into someone else. It was like that book, The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil, by Fay Weldon. That was fiction. But Kylie Jenner built an entire cosmetic empire on the back of a pout that she was not born with. Likewise Kim's bottom. All fake, all manufactured. Rylan attends a performance of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in February before his latest cosmetic treatment Meanwhile, TOWIE star Bobby Norris had a face and neck lift, sharing before and after pics (picture is from before) Livestreamer Clavicular, aka Braden Peters, is said to smash his own facial bones with a hammer So is it really any surprise that more people now consider having cosmetic treatments, surgical or otherwise, to be perfectly normal? Twenty years ago, it was a novelty, the preserve of a select few celebrities. Now it's commonplace, as anyone who has ever been on a flight to Bodrum can attest. But what is quite new is the number of men joining the club. And not just the usual 'looksmaxxer' loons, such as livestreamer Clavicular (aka Braden Peters) who is said to smash his own facial bones with a hammer, and orthodontist Dr Mike Mew, who advocates mandibular exercise for a squarer jaw. This week, the TV presenter and DJ Rylan Clark proudly took to his Instagram Stories to show off the results of his latest facial procedure, which he admitted was 'traumatic and invasive'. Meanwhile, The Only Way Is Essex star Bobby Norris shared pictures of the aftermath of an upper and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), face and neck lift. Ouch. Often, it's not even a case of has he or hasn't he it's glaringly obvious. People show off their surgeries like they might show off a new car or a piece of expensive jewellery. It's as much of a status thing as it is an aesthetic one. Cosmetic surgery, once something rather secret that you would not readily admit to, has become aspirational. And in the same way that women are openly altering their facial and physical structure to emulate their idols, so are men. With women it's often Angelina Jolie lips, Anya Taylor-Joy's heart-shaped face, Megan Fox's eyes. With men it's chin implants or fat removal to give a more chiselled appearance, like that of Cillian Murphy or Henry Cavill. The results are not universally successful. For example, in February Jim Carrey showed up at some event in Paris looking really odd. For a man whose entire career was based on his extraordinarily expressive face (if you've never seen his genius impersonation of stars such as Clint Eastwood and Jack Nicholson, they are definitely worth a detour) he seems to have got stuck in an impression of a late-stage Mickey Rooney. Is this the next part of human evolution? From Homo erectus to Homo botulinus. And what happens if two surgically altered humans have a baby that looks nothing like the pimped-up versions of themselves? Will that child have to undergo the same process to match its parents? It's all rather strange. Especially the men. I've always felt that most men tend to get better-looking with age, especially if they grow a beard, as many do. A beard is nature's contour, the perfect weapon in the fight against sagging jowls. Who cares if you haven't got much up top you can always wear a hat. But one of the biggest signs of ageing is a turkey neck and soft jawline. Grow a beard, and voila! Gone. Either way, I hope Clark and Norris are feeling better after their ordeals. Since I don't know what either of them looked like before surgery, I can't comment on the outcome. Just watch out, gents, that you don't go too far and turn into the Grooms of Wildenstein. I'm glad the King and Queen will be going to America, despite the British public's criticism of Donald Trump over the Iran war. Soft diplomacy is precisely what the monarchy is for. Perhaps they might attempt another diplomatic mission: popping in on the King's two grandchildren in Montecito. I'm sure the Queen is dying to sample Meghan's famous hospitality to say nothing of her trademark jam. Meghan's trademark jam costs $9 (6.80) per jar, and $14 (10.60) with 'keepsake packaging' The machines are here. Well, they are in London anyway. Last week I pulled up to the lights and noticed an odd vehicle next to me oversized and bristling with cameras and antennae. A Waymo driverless car the so-called future of driving. Do we really need these Californian imports on our roads? Bad enough that London's iconic black cabs, with their equally iconic drivers, are being edged out by Uber, now they are facing obliteration from robots. And all for what? So some tech bro can buy his girlfriend another pair of breasts? Black cabs are part of London's heritage. We should cherish them, not hound them out of business with creepy foreign imports. Greens' true colours If the Green Party passes its 'Zionism is racism' motion (delayed amid chaos at its conference last week), we will have final confirmation that it is anti-Semitic. It's OK to criticise Israel's actions. But to single out the Jews as the only group who have no right to self-determination is itself racist. Don't be fooled by the 'Hope Not Hate' rhetoric: as leaked WhatsApp messages from Greens For Palestine activists show ('an abomination to this planet' etc) it's clear that, for some of them at least, anti-Zionism equals anti-Jews. That a political party can even contemplate allowing such sentiment among its ranks is unsettling, and marks it out as not very different, ideologically, from far-Right movements that swept Europe in the 1930s. Yesterday was Trans Day of Visibility. Quite why this is deemed necessary is unclear the trans cause has had so much visibility over the past few years that even my cat has her own pronouns: Meow/Meowm. Are we seeing the rise of a new type of 'influencer' politician? I only ask because Hannah Spencer's Instagram (the new MP for Gorton and Denton) keeps popping up on my feed. It's mostly grinning, infantile selfies, but her latest post sees her shopping for clothes at a shop called Thunder Egg in Manchester, including a stylish pair of stripey trousers, a new multicoloured handbag and, of course, the obligatory trans rights T-shirt. All together, now: Commercialise the Intifada! Euphoric return for Sydney Euphoria is returning on April 12 after a four-year hiatus. Sydney Sweeney plays Cassie Howard The hit TV series Euphoria returns to our screens on April 12 after a four-year hiatus. During that time, its young stars have become Hollywood sensations. Sydney Sweeney (left) has made her mark in films such as The Housemaid (as well as causing controversy with her staunch Republican views and that jeans ad); Zendaya has established herself as a global icon; and Jacob Elordi is officially the new Brad Pitt. But the show has also had its share of tragedy. Angus Cloud, who played drug dealer Fezco, died of an overdose in 2023, aged just 25; and Eric Dane, who played closeted bisexual dad Cal Jacobs, died earlier this year of motor neurone disease, aged 53. It will be a bittersweet reunion. The creature swooped down from the treetops towards me. What looked at first like a normal bird grew bigger and bigger. I peered up through the misty dawn light. Soon it looked 20ft wide: a giant bat? A dragon? Its vast feathered wings flapped towards me: I cowered, went to run, tripped over a tree root. Looking up, the bat-dragon-bird was gone, but the tree stump in front of me seemed to be changing shape. Was it a tree stump? Or was it a huge cat, a black cat, the size of a jaguar? No, it was a tree stump again. I crouched on the forest floor, squinting into the soupy half-light of dawn, heart hammering. You alright, mate? My friend was standing above me. I grabbed on to his leg a lifeline of familiarity in this strange, shape-shifting world. The year was 1997 and I was 16 years old. This friend and I had been working until the early hours at a wedding: collecting empty glasses to the strains of Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. By the time the dishes were washed and the floors were swept, it was 3am. My friend, who was 18, was giving me a lift home, and suggested we stop at a wooded hill on the way to have a smoke while watching the sun come up. I knew he wasnt talking about normal cigarettes. I had never tried cannabis before but given the thundering crush I had on him, I thought I should give it a whirl. And so he deftly made us one joint, then another, and I tried to think of surreal, wacky things to say, since that is what I understood people to do when theyre stoned. Then came the hallucinations. I was knackered, yes, but not enough to start seeing birds the size of hang gliders. Seeing me pulling a whitey stoner expression for going suddenly pale my pal led me back down the hill and drove me home. Lying in bed I kept thinking of a line from a poem, appropriately called Skunk Hour: My minds not right. The whole thing was terrifying. I vowed never to smoke cannabis again and almost 30 years on, I havent. My friend was giving me a lift home and suggested we stop at a wooded hill on the way to have a smoke while watching the sun come up, writes Clare Foges Psychiatric hospital workers will tell you of those they treat who are long-term smokers of marijuana, whose brains are like bags of broken glass (posed by model) My experience meant I wasnt wildly surprised this week to read a new survey about the damage cannabis can do to the brain. Long-term use can actually change the structure of our grey matter, thinning the frontal cortex of the brain. The studys lead author says: Theres some evidence that cannabis users have less motivation, so this can also lead to a reduction of starting tasks. You dont say. Theres a reason they call it dope. My old friend from the woods smoked cannabis daily. Like so many others it caused this lively young man to retreat from the world. He stopped going out, instead spending hours in his bedroom smoking weed and playing the video game Grand Theft Auto. I couldnt stomach the smell so stopped visiting. While others went to college or got a job, he slipped between the cracks. We lost touch, and I sincerely hope his life turned out ok. For so many, though, life doesnt turn out well. Last year the UKs top psychiatrist Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists warned that when you start smoking with your mates at 14 or 15, you are literally growing your brain in a cannabis soup... Theres no doubt at all. Cannabis is a cause of psychosis. Speak to anyone working in a psychiatric hospital and they will tell you of the many people they treat who are long-term smokers of marijuana, whose brains are like bags of broken glass because of this soft drug. Look at reports of the most violent and sadistic crimes and very often you will read that the attacker was a long-term user. As for the growing argument that cannabis is vital in the treatment of mental health conditions? Revealed as utter nonsense a couple of weeks ago, when the largest study to date found there were no significant effects on outcomes associated with anxiety, anorexia nervosa, psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid use disorders. Evidence of the harm piles up and up. The risk of psychosis is five times higher for those who smoke skunk-like cannabis every day. Young people are twice as likely to commit a violent act if they smoke it daily. And yet still there are lunatics like the Green Party and the greedy multi-billion pound cannabis lobby who want to legalise this poison. Are they mad, or on something? There are lunatics like the Green Party who want to legalise this poison, says Foges Where drugs have been legalised, consumption goes up. When California relaxed its drugs laws, the number of pregnant women found with cannabis in their blood doubled. But the war on drugs has failed! say people like the Greens leader Zack Polanski. To which I would reply: What war? Where are the police actually implementing the laws we have? Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 the possession of cannabis is illegal, but have you walked through any city centre recently, where that musty smell is so thick you could slice it? Someone could be blowing green smoke rings into a coppers face and theyd get nothing for it. Compare this to Japan, where the law is actually enforced: months in jail for possessing cannabis, years if youre unlucky. And guess what? No weed zombies thronging the parks of Tokyo at dusk. This is the path we need to take not the defeated one of legalising the stuff. Police the laws we have properly. Do it for all the families whose child could become an anxious or psychotic shadow of their former self. For all the young people who will toke away their full potential. And for all of us sickened by that wretched skunk stink. Dua has both brains and beauty Singer and songwriter Dua Lipa attending the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 34th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party in March 2026 Congratulations to Dua Lipa, named as curator of the London Literature Festival 2026. Maybe pops most glamorous bookworm she runs her own book club can get her legion of fans to put down their phones and pick up a book. Good on her for showing that beauty and brains dont have to be mutually exclusive. The new doomscrolling is roomscrolling: spending hours on property sites such as Rightmove. A third of UK adults have a weekly look at other peoples kitchens and bathrooms in search of design inspiration. I have snooped on houses from Cornwall to Whitby. While I cant say its inspired my own interiors, it has convinced me of the designs to avoid at all costs: mirrored furniture, vertical blinds, grey velvet sofas. And, above all, jokey signs about gin oclock. Glasto is just a BBC staff jolly Coldplay performing on stage to huge crowds at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2024 What a foolish decision by the Beeb to reduce the specialist team which covers major ceremonial events like the Kings coronation. A desperate bid to save cash, apparently. Still, they can apparently afford to send more than 500 workers to Glastonbury every year on what looks suspiciously like a staff jolly. Easter eggs are a rip-off Easter egg prices appear to be up this year in spite of lower cocoa prices compared with 2025 There I was, merrily filling my shopping trolley with Easter eggs for my four children not realising I would have to sell a kidney in order to buy for them. An eye-watering 15 for a hollow chocolate egg? Prices are up 9 per cent on last year despite cocoa prices plunging. In a time of rampant inflation, it would have been nice for the Willy Wonkas to pass on the savings to customers. The rule that Whitehall civil servants must be in the office three days a week is being challenged by their union. Its a good job plumbers et al dont want to WFH too. Where would the taxes to pay their wages come from? When the first branch of the hipster burger joint MEATliquor opened in London's West End in 2011, the capital's trendy set scrambled to indulge in grass-fed burgers and truffle fries amid exposed brick and industrial-style lighting decor. Items like the 'Dead Hippie Burger' (featuring mustard-fried beef patties), the 'Booze and Bad Decisions' cocktail menu, and the unconventional venues with graffiti-covered walls and late opening hours until 3am attracted long queues and big names like David Cameron and David Beckham. On Monday news broke of the permanent closure of the bulk of MEATliquor restaurants, leaving just two of the original five left. Bosses at the Leeds branch, which shut after 11 years of trading, blamed increased market prices: 'Cost of living up. Cost of beef up. Cost of EVERYTHING up.' Much as it's been a challenging climate for the hospitality industry with rising business rates and Rachel Reeves' national insurance hike, which has pushed staff costs, that's by no means the only issue. TripAdvisor reviews brand the chain 'overpriced' and 'totally overrated' while another compares the food to 'something you would buy from Iceland', indicating that customers have fallen out of love with the proliferation of posh burger joints that have arrived on every high street in the past 10 years. Days after news of the MEATliquor closures, Patty&Bun announced four of its six venues have shut their doors, following in the footsteps of Byron Burger, which has collapsed into administration three times since 2020 and GBK, which closed 26 restaurants and axed 362 jobs. It was once the trendiest dining out option available - but now burger joints are slowly fading for Britain's streets (pictured: Influencer Gabby Allen at Five Guys) MEATliquor founder Scott Collins confirmed that the group had appointed BPI Asset Advisory to assess its options, adding to trade publication RestaurantNews: 'We're in the same position as a lot of others in the industry and I'm just getting ahead of things before we're forced to. 'On top of VAT, rates, beef and energy costs, we've not got a new war creating uncertainty and more tube strikes to deal with.' Soon after, the once equally as trendy burger joint Patty&Bun revealed the closure of four of its six venues on Instagram, writing: 'We've loved being part of these communities and just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who's walked through these doors. 'It's been a privilege to serve you. To our teams past and present, the graft, the energy, the madness and the love you put into every shift... we're endlessly grateful.' Among the closures was the brand's first-ever location in Marylebone, London, which launched in November 2012. The chain was, in its heyday, known and loved for its gourmet, quirky burgers with options including the Ari Gold (a messy cheeseburger named after the Entourage character) and laid-back atmosphere. Now, just two brick-and-mortar sites remain - perhaps unsurprising after the group, founded by Joe Grossman, last year announced a restructure that saw the group's assets acquired by a new company. Hardships have even spread to the cult favourite Five Guys, with losses widening across the European arm. Content creator @lifebychyna is seen dining at Byron Burger in London's Tottenham Court Road location Patty&Bun, famed for its dirty burgers (pictured), announced the closure of four of its six venues In October last year, the division, headquartered in London, shared a pre-tax loss of 36.7m for 2024, following a pre-tax loss of 16.7m in 2023. Five Guys, founded by the Murrell family in 1986, also made a pre-tax loss of 35.6m in 2022, City AM reported. The losses may be related to the brand's high cost points, with prices of 13.35 for a bacon cheeseburger and 6.95 for a large fries in the London Portobello branch, meaning a single meal could reach a total of 20.30. On TikTok, numerous posts show adults purchasing the 9.50 kids' meal, perhaps to keep costs down. 2025 also marked a tumultuous year for Byron Burger, which suffered its third collapse. Gen Z entrepreneur Akshat Tibrewala, 21, saved the brand for 2.5million after its previous owner, Tristar Foods, announced plans to bring in administrators, the Times reported. It comes after the once-booming GBK closed 26 restaurants and axed 362 jobs in 2020. The burger chain had been purchased in a rescue deal by Boparan Restaurant Group, which also plucked Carluccio's from insolvency during the pandemic. GBK said it had started to see improvements in trading the year prior after a major restructuring process in 2018, which saw it shut a raft of sites. However, the company, which had been owned by the South African group Famous Brands, said it slid into administration after the pandemic impacted its liquidity and potential to be sold as a solvent business. The Department of Homeland Security hit back at Jimmy Kimmel, calling him a 'failed comedian' after he mocked Secretary Markwayne Mullins background in plumbing. A DHS spokesperson defended Mullin's family plumbing business background and condemned Kimmel for the joke. 'Secretary Mullin represents the best of blue-collar America, and failed comedian Jimmy Kimmel choose to ridicule him for it,' a spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'In what other country could a young plumber from rural Oklahoma get fed up one day, run for Congress, serve his community in the House and Senate, and then be called to serve in the presidents Cabinet to protect the homeland?' Kimmel landed in hot water for the remark, with many insisting the comedian was mocking the working class of America. During last Tuesday evening's monologue, Kimmel blasted Mullin, who was sworn in to replace ousted Secretary Kristi Noem, and called him a 'low-level MMA fighter.' 'Trump's got a whole new generation of thinkers lined up, including his newly confirmed secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne "Chuck Mike Bruce Dave" Melon - Mullin,' the late-night host said. 'He's now the former senator of Oklahoma. Before he was elected to the Senate, Markwayne Mullin was a low-level MMA fighter and a plumber.' A DHS spokesperson defended Mullin's family plumbing business background and condemned Jimmy Kimmel for the joke, slamming him as a 'failed comedian' During last Tuesday evening's monologue, Kimmel blasted Mullin, who was sworn in to replace ousted Secretary Kristi Noem, and called him a 'low-level MMA fighter' 'Secretary Mullin represents the best of blue-collar America, and failed comedian Jimmy Kimmel choose to ridicule him for it,' a DHS spokesperson told the Daily Mail 'That's right. We have a plumber protecting us from terrorism now. It worked for Super Mario. Why not Markwayne?' Kimmel joked. Before entering politics, Mullin had a brief career as a mixed martial arts fighter, retiring in 2012 with an undefeated 5-0 record. He gained a reputation as a firebrand, earning induction into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016 and even challenging the Teamsters president to a brawl during a 2023 Senate hearing. According to his biography, Mullin and his college bride took over Mullin Plumbing, his family business, after he paused his studies due to his fathers illness. Together with his wife, he spent the past 25 years growing the business into the regions largest service company. Undeterred, Kimmel only doubled down on his joke, branding the new face of DHS unfit for the role. 'But honestly - I mean, if Trump is going to keep picking these unqualified people to run the department, why not have more fun with it?' he said during the monologue. 'I mean, next time instead of Markwayne, how about Lil Wayne for Homeland Security?' he added. 'At least we can get a concert out of it, right?' Mullin was sworn-in in the Oval Office on Tuesday, taking over from Noem who was spectacularly fired by Trump earlier this month The quip, however, was poorly received online as posts condemning the talk show host flooded onto X shortly after Tuesday's segment. 'I prefer plumbers to woke & unfunny comedians,' Texas Sen. Ted Cruz wrote. Wyoming Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis responded sharply, writing: 'The disdain for which the Democrats and Hollywood elites have for working-class Americans - and folks who step up to do important jobs for their country - is shameful. These people need help.' Representative Mike Collins did not take Kimmels comments lightly, criticizing the comedian in a lengthy post and accusing him of attempting to 'demean' men by calling Mullin a plumber. 'The elites too often look down their noses at the blue collar, middle America,' Collins wrote. 'As if plumbing is something to be ashamed of or is somehow a lesser profession than a court jester turning tricks on late night commentary (comedy is dead).' Collins said that calling a senator a plumber 'doesnt do him justice,' noting that Mullin built a successful business in a competitive industry that provides jobs and food on the table for many families. 'Plumbers, truckers, builders, tradesmen, etc built this country and continue to be a vital part of our economy's backbone,' the representative continued. On Thursday, Kimmel defended his joke and said: 'Let me make this very clear, Im not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. Im upset that he isnt still a plumber' During Mullin's swearing-in ceremony, Trump began reading Mullins bio before stumbling across a surprise: Mullin is Native American 'It's not just jobs,' he added. 'It's a spirit of actually using the sweat of your brow, determination and yes, intellect, to add in a productive way to America - a land of pioneers.' 'Western civilization can't survive without the men and women who provide blue collar services. Late night political commentary masquerading as comedy would never be missed.' DHS responded in another statement that the department was 'too busy arresting gang members, terrorists, pedophiles, racists, murderers and other criminal illegal aliens to engage in this kind of silliness.' On Thursday, Kimmel defended his commentary and said: 'Let me make this very clear, Im not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. Im upset that he isnt still a plumber. 'I wouldnt put a plumber in charge of Homeland Security for the same reason I wouldnt call a five-star general to pull a rat out of my toilet. OK? We all have our areas of expertise.' Mullin was sworn-in in the Oval Office on Tuesday, taking over from Noem who was spectacularly fired by Trump earlier this month after scrutiny over her alleged affair with top staffer Corey Lewandowski, which both have denied, and other scandals. The 'last straw' came when Noem told Senator John Kennedy under oath that she'd been given Trump's approval for a $220million taxpayer-funded campaign designed to boost her national profile. Trump announced her exit on Truth Social moments before stating that little-known Senator Mullin of Oklahoma would be nominated to become the next DHS Secretary. Ex-DHS Secretary Noem was spectacularly fired by Trump earlier this month On Monday, Mullin cleared the simple majority needed to be confirmed to his post. Democrats John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico crossed party lines and sided with the majority of Republicans to approve the nomination. During Mullin's swearing-in ceremony, Trump began reading Mullins bio before stumbling across a surprise: Mullin is Native American. 'But as the only Native American... I didn't know that,' Trump said before glancing at Mullin. 'I can tell you, he's the only Native American in the Senate. How many have been there before you, do you know?' the president asked, to which Mullin responded, 'I think three.' 'I didn't know all these things. I would have picked him faster. If I had known, I would have made a quicker decision,' Trump replied. Mullin seemed taken aback that Trump was unaware of much of his background, even though the two have appeared together at countless political and sporting events, often with his family. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation, and has supported multiple legislative efforts to help Native Americans while in Congress. Mullin seemed taken aback that Trump was unaware of much of his background, even though the two have appeared together at countless political and sporting events, often with his family Shortly after being sworn in by Attorney General Pam Bondi, he said that he would work with both Republican and Democratic states to 'protect everybody the same' 'Im Cherokee, and I never knew I was special for being Cherokee until I came to DC, because where Im from, everybody is Indian or wants to be,' Mullin said in a 2025 press release. Shortly after being sworn in by Attorney General Pam Bondi, he said that he would work with both Republican and Democratic states to 'protect everybody the same.' Taking charge of DHS, Mullin inherits a department under fire, with travelers nationwide facing long lines due to unpaid TSA staff, and ICE agents deployed to multiple airports to help manage the crisis. MS NOW's Chris Jansing challenged Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett after the latter blamed Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans for ongoing government funding tensions on Monday. Jansing, the network's chief political reporter, pushed back at the Dallas Democrat's assertion almost immediately with a recent poll from Harvard's Center for American Political Studies and global market research company HarrisX. The polling showed Congressional Democrats faring just as badly as their Republican counterparts in terms of public approval - with ratings of 43 and 44 percent, respectively. 'I have to say, though, its not only the president's ratings that are bad, Congress isnt doing so great. In fact, Democrats arent doing so great,' Jansing, 69, said as she segued. 'There's a new poll out. Congressional approval is down to 30 percent. 'Democrats dont fare any better, by the way, than Republicans do.' She ultimately asked whether Crockett, 45, felt she and other incumbents are 'at risk of an election thats essentially "throw the bums out?" 'They are sick of it not being functional, and theyre sick of the finger pointing. They think it's all a mess,' Jansing said. Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett blamed Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans for ongoing government funding tensions on Monday Jansing, MS NOW's chief political reporter, responded with a poll that showed Congressional Democrats' poor approval ratings Crockett - a little more than three weeks removed from her resounding Senate primary loss to progressive State Representative James Talarico - replied: 'I agree, but what usually happens is people are usually like, "All the rest of them are bad," and they keep voting for their own, right? 'So that's typically what happens.' She added: 'So, you know, we will see. 'I think that every single elected official needs to figure out what it takes to actually make sure that their constituents are happy and believing in the work that theyre doing. 'And so this is gonna come down to individual incumbents.' Seconds before, Crockett - often billed as a rising star in her party - maintained 'the only reason that our country is broken in all ways is because of this president, and because of the lack of courage on the Republican side.' The partial shutdown, meanwhile, stems from a funding dispute that began with Democrats' demands for reforms to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Representatives like Crockett have unsuccessfully campaigned for a funding bill that would fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), sans ICE and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Crockett replied: 'I agree, but what usually happens is people are usually like, "All the rest of them are bad," and they keep voting for their own, right? She recently lost the Texas Senate Democratic primary to 36-year-old State Representative Jamas Talarico, seen here with Stephen Colbert in an appearance CBS was not allowed to air last month She told Jansing after being confronted with the poll: 'I also think that, you know, there is a sentiment on both sides of the aisle where people are just kind of over the lack of function within government themselves. 'They may not say that out front, but that is one of the reasons that a lot of people are transitioning,' Crockett claimed. 'We will have a historic number of members that have left both the House and the Senate from both parties this term,' she predicted. Crockett recently lost a race to James Talarico, a 36-year-old state representative who gained traction through a savvy social media strategy that included a web-only interview with Stephen Colbert to circumvent what's known as the equal time rule. The 92-year-old rule, put in place by Congress but revived by The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this year, was meant to ensure broadcast stations provided equal air time to opposing political candidates in the 1930s. Crockett conceded defeat in the Texas Senate Democratic primary on March 4. She was assumed office in 2023. Motorists have been advised to drive 10 percent slower to save fuel as the Iran war sparks soaring fuel prices at the pumps. Fuel prices have continued to rise since the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked by strikes travelling through the strategic passage. Around 20 per cent of the global oil trade, which is the raw ingredient for both petrol and diesel, has been brought to a screeching by the war. And on British soil, motorists are feeling the pinch, with the price of diesel up 29 per cent since the beginning of the war on February 28. The US President insisted via a scathing social media post that he had already done 'the hard part' in launching the war alongside Israel against Iran. It comes as Donald Trump dramatically washed his hands of the crisis and told the UK to 'go get your own oil' today as the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. The conflict has impacted the pumps and sent the aviation industry into chaos as jet fuel supplies dry up, sending the price of plane tickets soaring. Meanwhile, Trump maintained the US has 'plenty' jet fuel, but airline bosses say firms are facing an 'existential challenge' amid rising costs. For drivers, the AA has advised them to reduce their speed by 10 per cent as it 'improves fuel efficiency' while continuing to keep 'up with the flow of traffic'. Drivers are being advised to reduce their speed by 10 percent in response to the Iran oil crisis, sparking a surge in pump prices (stock image) It advised motorists to avoid 'continuous harsh braking' by anticipating traffic lights, roundabouts and changing traffic flow. AA president Edmund King said: 'It is well worth drivers adapting their driving style and speed both to save money and enhance safety. 'We estimate that diesel drivers can save 10 per tank by changing their driving style.' Mr King also recommended drivers to use fuel price comparison apps to find the cheapest petrol or diesel for their journeys. 'Often there are price discrepancies up to 19p per litre within short distances', he warned. Forecourts across the UK have been required to report price changes to the Government's Fuel Finder database since February 2, within half an hour of a change. The data submitted to the fuel finder is also used by third-party fuel-price apps as well as websites. It comes as the RAC said the average price of a litre of diesel had increased once again to was 184.2p. The average price of diesel was almost a third lower before February 28, with a litre costing 142.4p. The average cost of petrol stands at 153.7p per litre - a 16 per cent increase from 132.8p when the war started. Your browser does not support iframes. Oil prices which have a significant effect on the cost of wholesale fuel have soared as launches attacks on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation estimated that rises in pump prices have led to motorists paying an additional 583 million for petrol and diesel, consisting of 439 million for diesel and 144 million for petrol. The disparity is caused by a combination of the record price gap between the fuels and the fact that more diesel is sold. The figures are based on average daily pump price rises and last year's fuel consumption rate. However, drivers won't be the only ones to have their pockets hit, with summer holiday chaos looming on the horizon for hopeful tourists. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has warned that travellers face a summer of uncertainty if the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt global oil routes. Pictured an oil tanker being truck by an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on March 30 Speaking to Sky News, Mr O'Leary said that while the budget airline was 'reasonably well-hedged' on 80 per cent of jet fuel, passengers could be hit with disruption from 'early May'. 'Fuel suppliers are constantly looking at the market. We don't expect any disruption until early May,' O'Leary said. 'But if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June, and we hope the war will finish sooner than that and the risk to supply will be eliminated.' Revealing he was paying $150 a barrel for around 20 per cent of his fuel, he insisted the more 'immediate concern' was if there would be enough jet fuel to keep planes flying. Expressing his hope that the war ends sooner rather than later, he also warned there is a 'reasonable risk' that anywhere from 10 to 25 per cent of supplies could be in danger in both May and June - possibly spelling summer travel chaos for millions. The Ryanair boss also insisted the summer season depends on whether the strategic passage, the Strait of Hormuz, can be freed once again for the travel of vessels carrying oil. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wants the best of the best at his agency to experience the thrill of a lifetime. After taking the job at NASA, Isaacman announced that he would make two of his privately owned Northrop F-5 Tiger aircraft available to the agency. The administrator took the Daily Mail into the skies above the John F. Kennedy Space Center to experience the thrilling opportunity offered to exceptional NASA employees. If you work at NASA, you're pretty much a top performer, but the best of the best we take up for flight experiences like this is just as a thank you for giving it all they got, Isaacman told the Daily Mail. The costs of the expensive flights are being covered personally by the administrator - at no expense to the taxpayer. The F-5 plane was used in the film Top Gun to portray the fictional MiG-28s, as the aggressor aircraft painted with Russian colors. But the administrators privately owned F-5 planes are now wrapped with a new patriotic paint scheme to recognize Americas 250th birthday. They now rest in NASAs airport hangar as his team prepared them for takeoff. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman prepares for a flight in an F-5 fighter jet NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is seen in his personal F-5 aircraft, The pair of fighter jets are decorated to mark the 250th birthday of the United States Aviation is really important to what we do at NASA, he said, pointing to the use of flights to prepare astronauts for real-life experiences in the air, after their time in the simulators. The lucky few passengers get fitted with NASA jumpsuits complete with carefully fitted helmets and oxygen masks prior to the flights and participate in a safety briefing. The passengers are strapped into the co-pilot seat, where they have access to a flight control stick. GoPro and 360 view cameras are installed in the cockpit to film the entire experience. The footage is later made available to the passengers to remember the thrilling experience. Passengers of the special F-5 fighter jet flights get an unprecedented view of the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida NASA administrator Jared Isaacman details the flight plan for a flight with Daily Mail reporter Charlie Spiering and NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens The Daily Mail flew in an F-5 fighter jet piloted by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman Pilot and NASA senior advisor Sean Gustafson and NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman participates in a formation flight with his personal F-5 aircraft Isaacman and his Daily Mail passenger were joined by his wingman and senior advisor Sean Gustafson and NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens as two F-5s soared into the skies above the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The pilots pulled a series of in-air maneuvers with his wingman that demonstrated the G-forces and thrills of a fighter plane. Passengers of the flights experience multiple barrel rolls and even get a chance to try their hand at the control stick. Isaacman and his wingman flew beside and underneath each other, exchanging positions in the sky close enough that passengers can see each other and wave. The flight also offered passengers a once-in-a-lifetime view of the history surrounding the space center in Florida. From the air, the Daily Mail saw multiple landing pads at the agency preparing for rocket launches. Also visible was the Vehicle Assembly building where NASA engineers are preparing the final checkouts to launch four astronauts around the moon as part of the Artemis II launch in April. Isaacman stressed the importance of the launch to once again prove that its possible for the United States and NASA to send astronauts back to the moon. When you consider the history of the program, what matters most is that we're going to do things differently. The status quo is unacceptable, he said. We're on a pathway to return to the moon. With disabled people still facing significant barriers to traditional employment, many are choosing to become their own bosses instead. Across the UK, disabled entrepreneurs are turning their ideas into thriving businesses, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK exist to recognise the outstanding achievements of these founders and give them the support they need to go on to even greater success. The awards were launched by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder and owner of the easy family of brands (www.easy.com and easyHistory.info) and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation (stelios.foundation) in partnership with disability charity Leonard Cheshire. The awards are now in their 18th year. Disabled entrepreneurs running a UK-based company with at least 200,000 in annual revenue are now invited to apply. The top prize is 150,000, with two further awards of 100,000 and 50,000. Since launching the awards in 2007, a total of 2,150,000 - including this year's 300,000 prize pot - has been donated to winners by Sir Stelios and his foundation. Umbreen David (middle) won 150,000 in last year's Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs to enhance accessibility at her care home For the first time, applicants are required to submit a short video pitching directly to Sir Stelios. Some of this footage will feature in a short documentary-style pilot about the competition, which will also be shared on social media. As well as handing out life-changing prizes to entrepreneurs, the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is also donating 50,000 to Leonard Cheshire to help with the running of this year's awards. Am I eligible? You are eligible to apply if you meet the following criteria - 1. You are over 18 and a disabled person in the UK. 2. You own at least 50% of the shares of a UK registered for-profit company that has filed accounts with UK Companies House showing a turnover (revenues) in one year of at least 200,000. 3. You must also be a Director of the company. Sir Stelios said: 'People with disabilities often face greater challenges in securing salaried employment, and I have always believed that the best way for a disabled person to get a job is to start their own business and be their own boss! 'We are committed to recognising and celebrating entrepreneurial excellence, and I hope that by offering significant cash prizes to those who have successfully launched their businesses they will inspire others with disabilities to follow suit and start their own ventures, generating opportunities and wealth for themselves, their families, employees and suppliers. 'And this year we are introducing a few exciting changes to the format of the awards. 'Applicants will pitch directly to me via video submission, and I have commissioned a behind-the-scenes documentary film as part of a pilot project which may well one day become a mainstream social media or TV series.' Be inspired by these former winners Sir Stelios was delighted to hand last year's top prize to Umbreen David of Hoama Group Ltd. Umbreen, who lives with muscular dystrophy and significant hearing loss, took over the management of Iden Manor Nursing Home in Kent and transformed a struggling facility into a vibrant, dignified and compassionate community. Reflecting her constant focus on improving the lives of her residents, she chose to invest her 150,000 cash grant in improvements to make her home more accessible. 'I am on a journey of building a care home,' Umbreen said after winning her prize. 'I also want to share my knowledge with young people and hopefully inspire them to think: if that crazy woman can do it, maybe I can too. 'You can be an entrepreneur, you can be a leader, even if you have challenges in life.' Cedric Bloch, founder of Brigit's Bakery, was crowned overall winner in 2024 Overcoming adversity is a common thread among previous winners. In 2010, Cedric Bloch founded a business, Brigit's Bakery, after having the idea of serving afternoon tea on one of London's iconic Routemaster buses. While it quickly took off, his hard-won achievements were thrown into doubt in 2021 after a spinal injury caused by a bike crash left him paralysed from the waist down and using a wheelchair. However, his unwavering determination and unbreakable spirit saw him bounce back from his accident, continue to grow his company and ultimately be crowned overall winner of the 2024 Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs. Cedric originally heard about the awards from a friend and sent in an application 'without thinking too much about it'. Before long, he was at the awards ceremony receiving his cash grant, which he put towards a project to develop the first ever electric-powered 1960s Routemaster. Asked for his message to other disabled entrepreneurs who were considering entering, he replied: 'You should. Who knows, you might win and get the chance to meet Sir Stelios. It definitely opens doors!' The first Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Awards winner, TV presenter and entrepreneur Amar Latif OBE, was the visionary founder of Traveleyes, a unique travel company that offers holidays for visually impaired people. Victoria Nelson, who bagged the first prize in 2019 for Deaf4Deaf, the UK's first sign language counselling service The types of enterprises started by winners have been hugely varied, from a manufacturer of colourful prosthetic leg covers (Mark Williams of limb-art.com) to a provider of premium metal polishing solutions (Joe Waggott of metalpolishingsupplies.co.uk). Among many other worthy winners is Victoria Nelson, who bagged the first prize in 2019 for Deaf4Deaf, the UK's first sign language counselling service - which is now part of complex care counselling provider DisabilityPlus. Several entrepreneurs honoured by Sir Stelios have even gone on to strike licensing agreements with Sir Stelios' easyGroup. They include Josh Wintersgill of easyTravelseat, a provider of transfer seats to aircraft passengers with reduced mobility, and Steve Holyer, founder director of easyAccessibility.com - which researches and develops life-changing technology for the visually impaired. Josh Wintersgill of easyTravelseat speaking at an event with Sir Stelios Marcus Missen, Executive Director Advocacy, Partnership and Impact at Leonard Cheshire, said: 'We are proud to have been working with Sir Stelios and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation since 2007. 'Each year, it is fantastic to see the creativity, drive, and talent of disabled entrepreneurs that these Awards spotlight and celebrate. 'Disabled entrepreneurs too often face additional barriers to success, which is why opportunities like this, and appropriate support for disabled people, are so important, and make a big difference.' To see the eligibility criteria and apply visit stelios.foundation/disabled-entrepreneurs-uk/ or leonardcheshire.org/stelios. Email queries can be sent to SteliosAward@leonardcheshire.org. All completed application forms should be emailed to maya.turnbull@stelios.com no later than 5pm BST on Thursday 30 April 2026. The winners will be announced via a hybrid ceremony online via Zoom and at the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, Thurloe Square, London on Tuesday 26 May 2026 at 12 noon UK time. The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, which launched in 2011, is funded by the majority of profits from easyGroup - the company owned by Sir Stelios that created and owns the easy family of brands including easyJet.com, easyHotel.com, easyCar.com, easyBus.com and easyStorage.com. Joseph Duggar sent groveling letters to family members begging for forgiveness following his arrest for alleged child molestation, the Daily Mail has learned. A family source said the 'embarrassed and humiliated' Duggar - formerly of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting fame - sent letters to individual relatives apologizing for 'dragging the family name through the mud once again.' Duggar, 31, was arrested earlier this month over allegations he molested a nine-year-old girl several times during a family trip to Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2020, but was released today after posting $600,000 bond. '[In the letters,] he says he has brought shame on everyone and he's ashamed of himself,' the source said. 'He knows that some of us don't want to talk to him right now. 'The number of people Joseph has hurt is astronomical. Obviously, no one as much as that little girl, but just everyone is dealing with the fallout of this - [his wife] Kendra, his kids, his entire family. This is horrifying and honestly we did deserve the apology.' But the source has taken solace in the fact that Duggar, unlike his brother Josh, 'at least seems to feel bad about this.' Josh Duggar, 38, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison in 2022 after being found guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography. The Daily Mail has learned Duggar and his older brother also exchanged letters from behind bars this past week. Joseph Duggar has sent groveling letters to family members begging for forgiveness after being arrested for alleged child molestation At the time he allegedly molested a nine-year-old girl, Duggar and his wife, Kendra, had two children and she was pregnant with their third 'From what I understand, Joe is needing someone to talk to,' the insider said. 'And Josh is definitely the person who has been in his shoes before. Joe always looked up to Josh, so that kind of makes sense to me. 'I don't know what's in those letters, and I don't really want to know. 'I can only hope that it's some sort of acknowledgement of the pain they have caused. Anything else is totally pointless.' Josh publicly supported Duggar after his March 18 arrest through a statement via his attorney. 'Josh understands the stigma of being accused,' his attorney - who, despite Josh's guilty verdicts, protests his innocence - told the Daily Mail. 'He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life.' The attorney added that although 'Josh and Joe are not in frequent communication,' their client 'hopes and prays for his brother's well-being in this difficult time.' A warrant for Kendra's arrest was issued on Friday, but when law enforcement initially went to the Duggar family residence in Washington County, she was not there Earlier this month, Duggar was arrested in Tontitown, Arkansas, where he lives with his wife and their four children. He is accused of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12, according to a Bay County, Florida, arrest affidavit. The alleged victim, now 14, told investigators Duggar touched her inappropriately multiple times during the 2020 family vacation. She said the abuse started when Duggar would put her on his lap. That escalated to him groping her underneath a blanket on the sofa, touching her thighs and private parts. The girl's father confronted Duggar in early March and said the former reality star admitted to it. Police say Duggar also admitted in a recorded call to 'touching the victim over her clothing' and acknowledged his 'intentions were not pure.' Duggar was jailed in Arkansas until this week, when he was extradited to Bay County, Florida. Separately, Duggar is also charged in Arkansas with four counts of false imprisonment and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, which emerged following a wider investigation into the allegations. The Duggar family rose to fame on TLC's 19 Kids and Counting reality show He made his first appearance before a Florida judge on Tuesday. While police say he admitted to the incident in a recorded interview, he entered a not guilty plea in court on March 31. He is due back in court on April 20. Duggar's wife, the mother of his four kids, Kendra Duggar, was also arrested in connection with allegations stemming from his case. She, too, has been released on bond. Kendra faces the same eight misdemeanor charges in Arkansas as her husband, though she is not accused in the Florida molestation case. In a jail call between the couple, obtained by People, Kendra seemed to express sympathy for her husband's prison conditions. 'I've been spending a lot of time reading the Bible, they got me a Bible in here,' Duggar told his wife of eight years in a March 20 recording. 'I'm in solitary. I'm in the cell 23 hours of the day. It's like an eight-by-ten area. 'I've been able to read a lot actually and resting some, but I'm not sleeping great through the night.' Kendra, 27, replied, 'Aww.' But there are signs she may be distancing herself from her husband, at least legally. During that same call, which took place hours after Kendra was released from police custody, she broke the news to Duggar that she had retained her own lawyer. 'I've been talking to Travis [Story],' she said on the call, per People. 'I've got him as my attorney now. 'I wasn't sure if you knew that, I've asked him to be my attorney... Well it's not for you, it's only for me.' Family members have since broken silence on his arrest, such as brother Josh - who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography. Josh's 2021 mugshot seen above Kendra faces the same eight misdemeanor charges in Arkansas as her husband, though she is not accused in the Florida molestation case The Duggar family's TLC reality show, 19 Kids and Counting, followed Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children, showcasing their devout Christian faith, homeschooling lifestyle and conservative family values. At its peak, the show attracted millions of viewers. But it was canceled in 2015 after allegations emerged that Josh, the oldest son, had molested several girls years earlier, including some of his sisters. Although no criminal charges were filed against Josh at the time, the Duggar parents told Fox News that four of the five girls he molested were his sisters. In 2021, Josh was arrested and charged with downloading 600 photographs of child pornography and seven videos of violent child sexual abuse. He was convicted of one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The possession charge was later vacated. Josh is scheduled to be released in October 2032, followed by 20 years of supervised release. For now, Duggar is hoping not to suffer the same fate as his older brother. During his stay at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, he had no personal possessions except for a Bible and a pad of paper. Clad in a black and grey striped prison jumpsuit, Duggar had little contact with other inmates - for his own safety. While the facility has a large sitting room, Duggar has never been spotted there. 'He's famous and rich, which makes him a target - plus what he's in for,' Ray Sheilds, a fellow inmate who recently bonded out, told the Daily Mail. 'He wouldn't last a day with some people. There was talk about kicking his a**, but no one got the chance. It's too bad.' In a statement, the Duggar parents acknowledged their son's arrest and expressed sadness at what has happened. 'Jim Bob and Michelle are heartbroken over this entire situation,' the statement read. 'Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time. They are praying for the victim. 'They ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.' OKLAHOMA CITY, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- USA Digital, a trusted provider of connectivity and communication solutions, today announced that the company has rebranded as APIO. The new name reflects the company's continued evolution and its commitment to delivering modern connectivity and communication solutions for businesses. While the company's name and brand identity are changing, customers can expect the same reliable service, team, and ownership they have trusted for over 25 years. "This rebrand represents the next chapter of our company," said Brent West, President at APIO. "APIO better reflects our vision for the future as we continue expanding our technology and communications solutions while maintaining the same commitment to customer service our clients have come to expect." Existing customers will experience no changes to their services, billing, contracts, or support. The rebrand is focused on aligning the company's identity with its long-term strategy and expanding capabilities. Over the coming weeks, customers and partners will begin seeing the APIO brand across the company's website, communications, and materials. For more information about the transition and what it means for customers, visit: www.apio.io About APIO APIO (formerly USA Digital) provides connectivity and communications solutions designed to help businesses stay connected, productive, and competitive. The company continues to build on its legacy of reliability while expanding innovative solutions for the future. Media Contact: Jim Goodin Chief Commercial Officer 800-598-7642 [email protected] SOURCE APIO Australians planning a holiday are facing a brutal blow with airfares set to surge and flights slashed as jet fuel supplies tighten and China curbs exports. From tomorrow, a return flight from Sydney to London with Cathay Pacific will be hit by an eye-watering $800 fuel surcharge on top of the usual ticket price. Qantas has already imposed a 5 per cent increase on international fares, while Virgin Australia has also begun raising its prices. Jetstar is quietly cancelling one in ten of its May flights in New Zealand, and Air New Zealand has already axed around 1,100 services. Cathay Pacific told Daily Mail the price jump was essential to its operations as the cost of crude oil and refining processes have increased. 'Fuel accounted for approximately 30 per cent of Cathay Pacific's total operating costs in 2025 and is critical to our operations,' a spokesperson said. 'If the steep increase of fuel costs cannot be effectively mitigated, we would need to consider making adjustments to our network, and we must do all we can to avoid this outcome. 'Like many airlines, Cathay undertakes fuel hedging to manage fuel price volatility. From tomorrow, a return flight from Sydney to London with Cathay Pacific will attract an eye-watering $800 fuel surcharge - and that's before the base fare Jet fuel prices have doubled since February amid the ongoing war in Iran Commonwealth Bank Head of Commodities and Sustainable Economics Vivek Dhar said more flights could face huge price increases 'However, in 2026 our hedging covers only around 30 per cent of the crude oil component and hedging does not apply to the refinery component, making this measure insufficient given the scale of the recent surge in jet fuel price. 'Fuel surcharge is another important mechanism to mitigate and recover a portion of our incremental fuel costs.' Experts warn prices are only going to get worse, with global jet fuel costs surging 11.2 per cent in a week to $175 a barrel - after jumping more than 80 per cent since late February, according to the International Air Transport Association. 'Flights are going to be more expensive - that's probably the base expectation for as long as this crisis lasts,' Commonwealth Bank Head of Commodities and Sustainable Economics Vivek Dhar said. 'While travellers will no doubt be affected, air freight, which relies on the same fuel supply, may also face higher costs and tighter capacity under these conditions. 'If airlines can't secure fuel for cargo operations, we could start to see disruptions and cancellations that impact the availability of certain goods,' Dhar says. Dhar expects the disruption to last months rather than weeks, with time needed for supply chains to adjust and normalise. 'We expect jet fuel prices to remain elevated while this disruption continues,' he says. Expert David Leaney (pictured) said the crisis offers an opportunity to build up resilience in Australia's own supply chain, with less reliance on China Australia is particularly exposed to rising airfares due to its heavy reliance on imported aviation fuel, with China supplying about 32 per cent. In March, Beijing ordered an immediate halt to refined fuel exports, raising fears of a global supply crunch. Industry sources then told Reuters on Tuesday that the ban would be extended into April, with ongoing discussions about limited volumes of oil exports to Southeast Asian countries. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said shipments are expected to continue until late April or early May, but beyond that, the outlook is unclear. With that deadline approaching, concerns are growing over how airlines will secure fuel in the months ahead. At the same time, airlines in South Korea, another key supplier, have pushed their government to prioritise domestic fuel needs, adding further pressure on supply. David Leaney, a supply chain specialist at the Australian National University, said the government has already moved to secure alternative supplies in case Chinese shipments are cut further. 'What's happened is, because we normally buy so much from China, we've negotiated with other suppliers, and we're buying more via Singapore,' he said. The Albanese government has scrambled to reach vital fuel import agreements with allies in the Asia-Pacific after China cut off exports of jet fuel 'That's mainly diesel and petrol, but it does include some aviation fuel.' Mr Leaney said Australia's natural gas exports was a key advantage, which could be used as leverage to secure fuel supplies. 'We can say to some of those big players in the region - Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China - if we guarantee you supply of natural gas, you can guarantee us supply of fuel,' he added. He said the crisis also offers an opportunity to build up resilience in Australia's own supply chain, with less reliance on China. 'The more you can diversify, the more you can put in options, then the more robust and easy to recover your supply chain becomes,' he said. Global aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas warned the situation is being worsened by pressure within supplier countries to keep fuel at home. 'The airlines in South Korea are lobbying their government not to export the jet fuel,' he told the Daily Mail. 'We supply South Korea the majority of their liquefied natural gas, and their coal, which they absolutely have to have. 'I would imagine there will be some serious discussion about, 'If you're going to cut off our jet fuel supply, we might cut off your LNG.' The same would apply to China.' Mr Leaney said aviation fuel may face supply pressure, but the distribution network is more stable than retail fuel, with less risk of panic buying. 'If necessary, if you're running an international flight from Australia to Europe, you can fill up in Europe,' he said. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Bowen announced they would underwrite 'shiploads of fuel' to secure supply in Australia. 'The government has stepped in to help the petroleum industry purchase cargoes on the high seas,' Mr Thomas said, adding these shipments typically include crude oil, refined petrol or aviation fuel. 'There are tankers out there on the high seas looking for the highest bidder. 'It's going to be a mix of two things, government-to-government negotiations, and probably buying additional cargoes on the high seas at a more elevated price.' A former NAB employee has told how he found himself standing on the rooftop of the bank's Melbourne skyscraper and, moments after getting his will signed and witnessed, contemplated taking his own life. John Horwood, 49, made sure his life insurance policy covered suicide by the time he went to the top of NAB's Docklands headquarters on December 17 and sat there for 30 minutes. He had been retrenched after almost nine years of service, but instead of immediately showing him the door, NAB dragged the process out for two months with promises of a possible redeployment that never came to fruition. By that stage, John's mental health had deteriorated significantly after years of bullying, verbal abuse and gaslighting by a number of senior employees, who he claims only cared about their bonuses. It marked the second time he'd contemplated suicide while employed by NAB. The first followed verbal and physical intimidation against him by a colleague, but he said he changed his mind following a call from HR. He also ultimately decided against taking his life in December because he didn't want to hurt his wife, and wanted to set a positive example for his two children. John has now chosen to forgo anonymity to hold NAB accountable for the human cost of its workplace practices, which he argues are designed to fall within the rules and create the illusion of happy staff, but actually leave employees open to bullying. Former NAB employee John Horwood, 49, contemplated suicide on the rooftop of the bank's Melbourne skyscraper after being made redundant. He is seen celebrating his birthday at work John had made sure his life insurance policy covered suicide by the time he went to the top of NAB's Docklands headquarters (pictured) on December 17 and sat there for 30 minutes Daily Mail has seen written statements, emails and screenshots from John's time at NAB showing complaints that were dismissed, a rescinded job offer after retrenchment, and evidence of his mental state at the time. 'Anonymous' surveys John had 20 years of experience in the technology sector by the time he started working at NAB in 2017, but he said management - known as 'people leaders' in the bank's ecosystem - were always problematic because there was no accountability. 'People leaders would go into round-table discussions, and you were relying on your people leader to represent you in the best light, but they don't do that,' he told the Daily Mail. 'They're motivated by greed and they use round tables to manipulate the system - their metrics are tied to their bonuses.' John referred to engagement surveys, which are supposed to be optional for employees, that ask workers questions about how satisfied they are in their team, and whether they would recommend their manager. The surveys are touted by the bank as anonymous, but John said managers get access to survey comments if more than eight people in their team complete the survey. He said managers are much more likely to get a bonus if the survey results are positive. Daily Mail has seen written statements and emails from John's (pictured) time at NAB showing complaints that were dismissed 'If you're in a team of ten people, they'll pressure you into doing it and you'll get called out if you haven't completed it,' he said. John and a number of other employees say the surveys create the illusion of a happy workplace, but in reality, everyone is too scared to fill them out honestly. Targeted retrenchment John, who rejected NAB's offer of a $10,000 non-disclosure agreement, said he was always honest in his surveys - which is part of what he claims led to his downfall at the bank. He decided to become a union representative because he said staff were being asked to work more than 16 hours a day, and told by their managers not to log it because overtime would trigger HR enquiries. Managers were calling their staff late at night and early in the morning about deadlines, and reprimanding them when they didn't immediately respond, he said. The Mail previously revealed NAB was placing some staffers on unfair Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) to make them quit because redundancies are too expensive. When PIPs were not being used to force people out, John said redundancies were given to anyone who spoke up. 'Internally, managers know redundancy is used to target people out of a job,' John said. (Pictured: a break area in NAB's Melbourne headquarters) 'Someone else who was about to take parental leave was targeted for redundancy, and now he's unemployed,' John said. 'Others who wouldn't work 16-hour days ended up being made redundant, but when you bring it up with the bank, they say, "You have other opportunities, there are a lot of people impacted, we haven't done anything wrong".' False job opportunities When John found out he would be made redundant due to a restructure in October, he was promised other opportunities would be available. He applied for nine jobs, some of which were below his skill set, and was rejected for eight. Screenshots from a conversation with another employee obtained by the Daily Mail show that he was offered one job. But that offer was quickly rescinded, and he was told the role had been withdrawn and placed on hold. 'They don't help you apply for internal jobs. You're on your own and you have to find them yourself,' he said. 'Internally, managers know redundancy is used to target people out of a job, and you've become a second-class citizen. It's like you're on death row. How are you supposed to get a job in that position? It's a miracle I got an offer.' John (pictured) decided to become a union representative because he saw that staff were being asked to work more than 16 hours a day John is one of many former employees who told the Mail about the lengthy and demoralising redundancy period, where workers are in limbo for two months wondering if they'll get redeployed. He said the redundancy period is extended for so long to give the illusion of providing further opportunities for retrenched staff, therefore avoiding unfair dismissal claims. Most employees are so worn down by the process that they don't want to fight the decision. Relentless bullying John had two breaking points. One was in 2022 when a colleague became verbally abusive and physically intimidating over an email. 'He tore strips off me,' John said. He was already unsupported by senior staff who had scolded him in a Zoom meeting about the company code of conduct. The meeting was a performance review, but John said one member of staff was so aggressive he started shaking. John was devastated when he found out that a worker from the bank's fraud sector took his own life at the NAB building in Docklands (scene pictured) 'I was physically shaking because of the trauma I was experiencing, and he could see me because it was a Zoom meeting, and said I was heading for a performance rating of one, and I was thinking he was going to fire me,' John said. 'He was going to justify using NAB's policies as a weapon, and I lost the ability to speak, tears rolling down my face, and my wife was in the next room and she said, 'We're going to have to end the call here.'' When the colleague later abused John, he messaged his wife about what happened, formed a suicide plan, and bought materials on the way home. Mere seconds before he went through with it, someone from NAB HR called and asked: 'Do you have a plan?' His wife was concerned and had called NAB, before HR contacted him. They phoned an ambulance and he was taken to hospital for a mental health assessment. John was surprised and grateful when NAB kept him on full pay during his two-month recovery, without deducting hours from his personal or annual leave balances. There were a number of incidents after that which led to his second breaking point in 2025, but John said the drawn-out redundancy period was the tipping point. 'I had printed out my last will and testament, got it witnessed at the post office, I had a life insurance policy that had progressed past the waiting period for suicide, and I sat on the rooftop for about half an hour. I was ready,' he said. The rooftop terrace at the NAB building in Docklands is pictured 'I had a lot going through my mind, but I still had a claim against the bank running, and I thought, 'Why should I give NAB the easy way out?'' John eventually lodged an unfair dismissal claim, but he was advised by the Financial Sector Union to drop it because his payout would be less than his redundancy payment. He also lodged a complaint about the bullying, and used the bank's whistleblower service, but the outcomes - seen by the Daily Mail - found there was nothing wrong and dismissed the claims. 'They hide behind processes and make it look like everything is fair, but it's so far from the truth,' he said. A NAB spokesperson told Daily Mail that the bank supports all colleagues to raise genuine concerns or allegations of wrongdoing. They said there are 'clear policies and independent channels to ensure concerns and allegations are taken seriously, assessed fairly, and without retaliation'. 'The concerns raised by a former colleague last year, and shared with the Daily Mail, were assessed by NAB and after an extensive process the individual withdrew their claim. 'The individual was represented and supported throughout the process by an independent third party selected by them.' The bank rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing. John, like others, was devastated when he found out that a worker from the bank's fraud sector took his own life on March 5 from the same rooftop where he had contemplated suicide in December. Victoria Police confirmed it attended an incident in the CBD on March 5. 'Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a man in Docklands on March 5,' a police statement read. 'The body of a man, who is yet to be formally identified, was located on Bourke Street about 2pm.' If this has raised any issues for you, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 for confidential crisis support. Get the full story on the NAB scandal with DailyMail+ Forgotten NAB suicide of a married father-of-three that haunts the 'Big Four' bank... as we reveal what executives privately think about toxic culture after Docklands tragedy Read the damning email to NAB CEO from suicidal worker before Docklands tragedy - as we reveal the cruel HR method pushing staff to the brink Pushed to the brink: NAB staff claim bosses at the suicide bank where one employee plunged to his death are deliberately making life hell for workers - and the reason why will horrify you Anger, grief and finger-pointing at NAB after 'AI-skilled' worker's skyscraper suicide: As questions mount about Big Four bank, staff cry: I never want to step foot in there again 'Triggering' Teams photos and claims of other suicide attempts: NAB whistleblower speaks after bank worker plunged from 14th-floor rooftop as horrified staff watched on She asked him to be in her video Scott Pape has recalled a bizarre interaction with a 'beautiful young woman' who stopped him in his tracks at a well-known croissant shop and asked him to be a part of her video shoot. The Barefoot Investor was outside Lune Croissanterie in the heart of Melbourne when the woman, who identified as an influencer, made the request. 'Would you mind walking behind me?' she asked, according to Mr Pape's online newsletter on Monday. 'You look like a local. 'Just walk past me as I shoot my video, but keep it natural.' He agreed, adding that 'beautiful women don't stop me in the street to talk', while his family watched on bemused from inside the bakery. 'Are you famous, Dad? You were just on a video?' Mr Pape's daughter asked, while his wife, Liz, noted the influencer's Chanel handbag was more expensive than his ute. The finance guru had driven with his family from their chestnut farm in regional Victoria to visit the bakery that was once featured in The New York Times for its renowned croissants. Scott Pape has recalled the time a 'beautiful young woman' stopped him in his tracks at a well known croissant shop, asking him to be part of a video shoot The Barefoot Investor was outside Lune Croissanterie in the heart of Melbourne when the woman made the request A Japanese exchange student the Pape family are hosting from Shibuya had asked if they could visit. In a hurry to watch the footy, Mr Pape said he was impatiently waiting with his family in the 'annoyingly long queue' before he was approached by the influencer. 'The influencer photographed her croissant from six angles and laughed at things that weren't funny,' he said. 'She looked stressed directing me until the camera came on, at which point she looked like she was having a lune of a time. 'She never took a bite, which in hindsight, was the most honest thing about the whole production.' The case wasn't the same for the Japanese student, who paid $7 for her croissant and 'ate it like it was the best thing that ever happened to her'. 'Back on the farm, every bill feels like it's doubled and even dog food is starting to look like a luxury item,' he said. 'Our exchange student flew in from one of the most overwhelming cities on earth, rocked up to a bakery in Melbourne, paid $7, and had a genuine perfect moment. 'The influencer was there too kinda. She was performing. She wasnt present.' 'In this cost-of-living crisis, everyone's telling you what to cut back on, but I'd suggest the last thing you cut is the stuff that's actually real.' Welcome to national compulsory jetlag week when everybody is bleary. More people have heart attacks and there are more road accidents. Why? There's no good reason. People shout and scream at me on social media for days on end, and then accuse me of being obsessed with it. This is a moment for mass national disobedience. We really do have to explain to the government we don't want to do this. Click to watch the video above. Sacked BBC Radio 1 presenter Scott Mills previously admitted to pinning an ex-boyfriend to the wall by his throat after he found him in bed with his friend. Mills, 53, was fired by the BBC on the weekend after 27 years with the company - reportedly over 'serious sexual offences' against a boy under the age of 16 between 1997 and 2000. The Met Police confirmed they had questioned Mills over the allegations when they were reported to them in 2016, but the Crown Prosecution Service found there wasn't enough evidence and closed the case in 2019. However, the BBC is refusing to say why he was sacked other than that it was related to his 'personal conduct'. Since the news broke, the presenter's past relationships have been under the microscope, including the death of his former partner Mitch who died of from an overdose in 2000. In his autobiography released in 2012 titled 'Bye, love you', Mills admitted being violent towards a boyfriend he had just before he left Manchester to work for Heart 106.2 in London in 1995. Mills wrote: 'He was one of those guys who I knew was bad news but of course that was part of the attraction. 'I really fancied him but at the same time, didn't trust him. He was the kind of person I would never go for in a million years now.' Radio 2 Breakfast Show host Scott Mills, pictured last January on his first Radio 2 breakfast show, was hauled off air last Tuesday and his contract has now been terminated over his 'personal conduct'. Police have confirmed the complainant was under the age of 16 Scott Mills and his husband Sam Vaughan last April. They married in 2024 after appearing on BBC's reality show Celebrity Race Across the World He explained how Darren then 'turned up' in Manchester one day and 'announced' he was moving in with Mills. The budding then 22-year-old radio star who had been working at local stations said he was 'confused and didn't know how to turn him away', adding that he knew it wasn't a good idea for them to live together. He said Darren was 'aggressive' and made him feel 'properly scared' at times. He continued: 'Thankfully, Darren made our breakup quite easy. 'Six months after he moved in, I went on holiday and, in another scene straight from a movie, I arrived back to find him in bed with my friend. Yes, that really can happen in real life. 'I remember grabbing him and shouting at him. I even pinned him to the wall with my hand around his throat which was very out of character for me but I was so angry. 'Then I threw him and all his stuff out of the flat. Even though I'd kind of always known he was dodgy, I was still really hurt by Darren's betrayal. 'I should never have got involved with him but it was one of those young things where I thought it would be ok and I could change him - that never works, I know that now.' In recent years, Mills has found stability with husband Sam, whom he met in 2016. The couple appeared together on, and won, BBC's reality show Celebrity Race Across the World in 2024. They got married in Barcelona shortly after filming. Mills joined BBC Radio 1 in 1998 from Heart 106.2, where he started in 1995 after working in local radio in Hampshire, Bristol and Manchester. A source has claimed the director general at the time of the 2016 police probe, Tony Hall, did not know about the sexual assault allegations made by the boy under 16 against Mills. One BBC executive in London told the Daily Mail today there's a real belief amongst bosses at the corporation that the timing of Mills's sacking and the release of the Edwards drama was 'not a coincidence'. 'The Huw Edwards drama showed that there could be a reckoning', they said. Another senior broadcaster at the BBC added that the claim the Huw Edwards drama was the 'spark' is swirling around Broadcasting House. The BBC declined to comment on the claims. On